Prednisone - a miracle drug for Senior Dogs?

Hunny Bunny

Let me start this post by saying.....I am not a veterinarian nor an expert on this subject, however, right now we have five dogs who are taking prednisone, for some completely different reasons, and it has been beneficial for all five of them. I was compelled to do some research and this post is a summary of our experiences and what I have learned. 

The Old Friends who are on prednisone right now are:
Rannie - for elevated liver enzymes causing loss of appetite. The cause is still unknown. Although the enzyme levels are not down, they are not up either and her energy level and appetite are back to normal. Also taking Denamarin.
Lucy - her blood work showed anemia and high white blood cell count. She is now back in normal levels. Also took antibiotics.
Charlotte and Hunny Bunny - both are on a low dosage maintenance level of prednisone to help with difficulty walking because of back and/or joint pain due to arthritis. Their improvement has been significant. It works much better for both of them than carprofen, which also has potentially dangerous side effects.
Maggie - for allergies. She is scratching less and her ears are staying clear.
It is amazing to me that one drug can do so many things.....

Prednisone is a synthetic steroid, used for animals and humans,  that lessens inflammation and lowers the body's immune response. Because of these effects, it is useful for a variety of senior dog problems. It's use is not to be taken lightly, as there are as many potentially dangerous side effects as benefits, but, if used correctly, it has significant quality of life improvement potential for the senior dog. With senior dogs, our decisions weigh more heavily toward quality of life than quantity of years, so, although a strong consideration still, long term side effects are of lesser importance than they would be for a middle aged or younger dog.

Before taking prednisone, the dog must be stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as carprofen (Rimadyl, Novox and others) for several days. Using these drugs together or without the waiting period can have a fatal reaction. Always, a veterinarian should monitor any changes in medication.

Prednisone is started at a higher dosage and is either decreased over a period of days or weeks until it is no longer used or it is tapered down to an, as low as possible, maintenance dosage. The reason for this taper down is that prednisone is similar to cortisol, a hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands. While taking prednisone, the adrenal glands will reduce the cortisol that they produce. If the prednisone were to be suddenly stopped, the dog's body would have withdrawal symptoms. By gradually decreasing the dosage of prednisone, the adrenal glands are given the time to resume their normal functions.

There are many possible side effects of prednisone, especially with long term or higher dose usage. The risk of side effects must be balanced against the benefits of use. In senior dogs, the scale tips toward quality of life issues, since without quality of life, quantity is not important. In the case of Hunny Bunny and Charlotte, they are barely able to stand up or walk without prednisone. Other options, such as carprofen, have not been as effective and carry their own risks. Both of them are also on a glucosamine/condroitin supplement that may or may not be helping, but it is inexpensive and without adverse side effects. Lucy took prednisone for a specific problem and is currently being weaned completely off of it.
Some of the side effects of prednisone include relatively minor issues such as increased hunger and thirst, but can also cause ulcers, muscle loss and personality changes. It suppresses the immune system and can reduce the resistance to other diseases. In the most severe cases it can cause a susceptibility to diabetes due to metabolic changes or can cause canine Cushing's disease which is caused by a hormonal imbalance.

Prednisone is administered for the treatment of numerous diseases and conditions, including, but not limited to, allergies, inflammation from arthritis and back problems, auto-immune disease, asthma and tumors. In senior dogs, it can offer a significant quality of life improvement that often outweighs the risk of side effects. In a younger dog, risks and benefits must be weighed differently. Your veterinarian is your best source for information on medication and it's usage. Prednisone, like any medication, should only be given to your dog as prescribed by your veterinarian.