Urinary incontinence after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 159 reports of urinary incontinence in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

159Reports

70%Marked serious

4.4%Recovered

23%Died or euthanised

14 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

19 16%

1–2 days

16 14%

3–7 days

17 14%

1–4 weeks

25 21%

Over a month

41 35%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 4.4%

Still unwell when reported

67 42%

Died

11 6.9%

Euthanised

26 16%

Not known

48 30%

Problems reported at the same time

45 28%

41 26%

38 24%

38 24%

37 23%

27 17%

26 16%

25 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 urinary incontinence in dogs?: 159 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 14 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).

Urinary incontinence with similar medicines

Urinary incontinence after Dexamethasone 43 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 29 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Prednisolone 20 reports · 1.7% of its reports

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