Pancreatitis after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 93 reports of pancreatitis in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

93Reports

86%Marked serious

15%Recovered

31%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

9 16%

1–2 days

9 16%

3–7 days

7 13%

1–4 weeks

11 20%

Over a month

20 36%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 15%

Still unwell when reported

30 32%

Died

10 11%

Euthanised

19 20%

Not known

20 22%

Problems reported at the same time

60 65%

51 55%

38 41%

38 41%

34 37%

30 32%

30 32%

Abnormal ultrasound finding

24 26%

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 pancreatitis in dogs?: 93 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 10 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).

Pancreatitis with similar medicines

Pancreatitis after Dexamethasone 39 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Pancreatitis after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 24 reports · 1.1% of its reports

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