Tachycardia after Prednisone in dogs

111 reports to the FDA describe tachycardia in dogs given Prednisone. That is 1.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

111Reports

90%Marked serious

17%Recovered

36%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 25%

1–2 days

9 9.7%

3–7 days

10 11%

1–4 weeks

23 25%

Over a month

28 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

18 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.9%

Still unwell when reported

39 35%

Died

10 9.0%

Euthanised

30 27%

Not known

13 12%

Problems reported at the same time

60 54%

53 48%

52 47%

45 41%

41 37%

40 36%

33 30%

28 25%

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 tachycardia in dogs?: 111 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).

Tachycardia with similar medicines

Tachycardia after Dexamethasone 131 reports · 4.8% of its reports
Tachycardia after Prednisolone 21 reports · 1.7% of its reports

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