Overdose after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 95 reports of overdose in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.3% across reports for all dog medicines.

95Reports

52%Marked serious

19%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

15 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 25%

1–2 days

4 7.5%

3–7 days

4 7.5%

1–4 weeks

13 25%

Over a month

19 36%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 3.2%

Still unwell when reported

42 44%

Died

5 5.3%

Euthanised

6 6.3%

Not known

24 25%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

25 26%

24 25%

20 21%

19 20%

13 14%

11 12%

11 12%

11 12%

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 overdose in dogs?: 95 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 15 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).

Overdose with similar medicines

Overdose after Dexamethasone 22 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Overdose after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 22 reports · 1.1% of its reports

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