(Prednis-tab®, Cortef®, Prelone®, Solu-Delta-Cortef® are other names for this medication.)

Use: Prednisone and prednisolone are glucocorticoid drugs (like the hormone cortisol) used for many indications. They affect nearly every cell in the body and can be used to suppress the immune system in diseases like lupus, to stop itching, to treat Addison’s disease, to treat certain types of cancer, to stop swelling of the brain, to treat certain kinds of anemia and many other diseases and conditions.

Side Effects: Animals treated with prednisone will have an increased appetite, increased thirst and an increased need to urinate. You should be aware that your pet may need to go out more frequently to urinate. As it is stressful to some pets to have ‘accidents’ you should make sure that your pet can go outside or have a clean litter box when needed.

Precautions: Use this drug very cautiously in animals that have had active stomach or gastrointestinal ulcers or have had these kinds of ulcers in the past.

Directions: Dogs and cats usually receive prednisone and prednisolone orally once to twice daily. Dogs usually receive prednisone in the morning and cats usually receive it in the evening if only given once daily as this will more closely mimic their natural hormone cycles. Commercially available prednisone liquids are very repulsive to cats. Your pharmacist may compound a specially flavored oral liquid of prednisone or prednisolone to increase your cat’s acceptance of the medication.

Remember: Prednisone and prednisolone should be stored at room temperature in a tight, light resistant, childproof container away from all children and other household pets.

If you miss a dose of this medication you should give it as soon as you remember it, but if it is within a few hours of the regularly scheduled dose, wait and give it at the regular time. Do not double a dose as this can be toxic to your pet.