Pain after Prednisone in dogs

313 reports to the FDA describe pain in dogs given Prednisone. That is 3.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

313Reports

61%Marked serious

12%Recovered

20%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

65 25%

1–2 days

40 16%

3–7 days

42 16%

1–4 weeks

55 21%

Over a month

54 21%

How the animals did

Recovered

36 12%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.3%

Still unwell when reported

125 40%

Died

26 8.3%

Euthanised

38 12%

Not known

87 28%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

125 40%

Lethargy

98 31%

Swelling

95 30%

Injection site reaction

90 29%

70 22%

67 21%

65 21%

64 20%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

105

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 pain in dogs?: 313 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 4 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).

Pain with similar medicines

Pain after Dexamethasone 104 reports · 3.8% of its reports
Pain after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 20 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Pain after Prednisolone 42 reports · 3.5% of its reports

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