Urinary tract infection after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 146 reports of urinary tract infection in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.6% 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.

146Reports

84%Marked serious

7.5%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

27 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 14%

1–2 days

5 5.6%

3–7 days

9 10%

1–4 weeks

20 22%

Over a month

43 48%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 6.8%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.7%

Still unwell when reported

65 45%

Died

8 5.5%

Euthanised

18 12%

Not known

44 30%

Problems reported at the same time

48 33%

41 28%

32 22%

27 18%

26 18%

26 18%

25 17%

24 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 tract infection in dogs?: 146 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 27 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 tract infection with similar medicines

Urinary tract infection after Dexamethasone 41 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Urinary tract infection after Prednisolone 26 reports · 2.1% of its reports

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