Muscle wasting after Prednisone in dogs

58 reports to the FDA describe muscle wasting in dogs given Prednisone. That is 0.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

58Reports

81%Marked serious

10%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

26 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

0 0.0%

1–2 days

3 7.9%

3–7 days

6 16%

1–4 weeks

11 29%

Over a month

18 47%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 6.9%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 3.4%

Still unwell when reported

15 26%

Died

8 14%

Euthanised

15 26%

Not known

14 24%

Problems reported at the same time

26 45%

23 40%

22 38%

19 33%

18 31%

15 26%

12 21%

11 19%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Prednisone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

Steroids commonly cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, especially at higher doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Prednisone cause muscle wasting in dogs?: 58 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 26 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

All reported side effects of Prednisone in dogs · Medicines most reported with muscle wasting