Walking difficulty after Prednisone in dogs

The FDA has received 131 reports of walking difficulty in dogs after Prednisone. That is 1.5% 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.

131Reports

88%Marked serious

14%Recovered

36%Died or euthanised

11 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 21%

1–2 days

18 16%

3–7 days

9 8.1%

1–4 weeks

28 25%

Over a month

33 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 12%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.5%

Still unwell when reported

44 34%

Died

18 14%

Euthanised

29 22%

Not known

22 17%

Problems reported at the same time

52 40%

51 39%

48 37%

35 27%

35 27%

31 24%

25 19%

20 15%

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 walking difficulty in dogs?: 131 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 11 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).

Walking difficulty with similar medicines

Walking difficulty after Dexamethasone 52 reports · 1.9% of its reports

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