Musculoskeletal disorder after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 114 reports of musculoskeletal disorder in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

114Reports

70%Marked serious

11%Recovered

33%Died or euthanised

8 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 19%

1–2 days

13 15%

3–7 days

13 15%

1–4 weeks

15 17%

Over a month

30 34%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 7.9%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 2.6%

Still unwell when reported

48 42%

Died

14 12%

Euthanised

24 21%

Not known

16 14%

Problems reported at the same time

43 38%

38 33%

37 32%

25 22%

21 18%

20 18%

Didn't work as expected

19 17%

Wobbliness (ataxia)

18 16%

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 musculoskeletal disorder in dogs?: 114 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 8 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).

Musculoskeletal disorder with similar medicines

Musculoskeletal disorder after Dexamethasone 28 reports · 1.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisone in dogs · Medicines most reported with musculoskeletal disorder