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Original poster

Steroids and dogs

23 replies

Squarer · 01/04/2006 22:27

Does anyone know what possible withdrawal symptoms (if any) would be for stopping steroids (PLTs) in a dog. Almost homeopathic dose until 2 days ago - is it bad to stop outright?

I know it's a long shot..... but the vets don't open til Monday.

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Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 09:18

morning bump, just on the offchance anyone knows...

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noddyholder · 02/04/2006 09:20

Well I don't know about dogs only humans and you need to taper them very slowly otherwise the illness they are being used for can have a huge flare up.What were they for?I was reduced from them too quickly once and it was terrible

oops · 02/04/2006 10:08

PLT contain a bit of steroid and if you were using them at a low dose then stopping them will probably do no harm..
if you had been using them for a long time the dog may get some side effects....

the worst case (very rare on low doses) would be that she goes very weak and wobbly and maybe vomits and gets diarrhoea. If this happens then she does need to get veterinary attention that day- this can be serious.
however, i bet the effrect of taking her off them would be that, as NH says, the problem she has flares up. Is the dog on them for arthritis? Maybe
s/he will be stiffer for the next few days.

I presume you have run out! maybe if you find one or two you can just halve the dose for a day or so... this should be better than stopping suddenly.

I wouldn't worry too much, but do keep an eye on her for the day Smile
oh, and don't give her any other sort of painkiller at the moment, steroids and non- steroidals such as aspirin and paracetamol don't mix well.
hth Smile

Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 10:30

Thank god! People who know!!

He was on an almost homeopathic dose (1mg per day - should be 4mg for a dog his size) for Ankolysing Spondylitis but we are having a nightmare with him. He got an eye ulcer which was treated by removing the dead cornea and putting in a contact lense. He got his buster collar off and has damaged his eye quite seriously by scratching at it. He has now had a grid keratectomy.

He hasn't had any steroids since Thursday, won't go out - is very weak and wobbly and started vomiting yesterday. Wondered if his not going out was related to the grid keratectomy? I tried to get a steroid into him yesterday but he htrew it up. What should I do???

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oops · 02/04/2006 10:50

the withdrawal side effects of steroids can be very serious, and weirdly it isn't always possible to predict which dog will get them. It makes sense that if you stop a high dose quickly then the side effects are more likely, but not every dog reads the text book !

Will you end up seeing your vet? If so then he/she will know all about the situation but if you go to an emergency clinic then take the packet of tabs with you and mmaybe write it all down before you ge tthere....

They will be able to check him over and maybe even take some blood tests, if they are worried about him then they may keep him in.

The wobblinedd could always be associated with the AK tho' , when he came off the drugs he may end up with some sore areas

The vomitng is the thing that makes me a little bit more worried... but he has been through alot

I don't want to cost you any more money tbh! but i think it would be good to at least phone your vet/emerg clnic and see what they say.

noddyholder · 02/04/2006 10:53

I was on quite high seroids after my transplant and they were tapered down to a low dose.Then the doctor said to go straight to the maintenance dose overnight and I got out of bed the next day and fell straight over!I was weak dizzy and nauseous I took some more steroids and was back to myself in 24-48 hours and then did the reduction very gradually over about 6 months or so.The poor thing give him some and he will be right as rain.I am now on alternate days and this works for me HTH Poor doggy

Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 10:53

I'll do that - thanks for your advice Smile

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Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 10:57

Noddy - I tried to get a steroid in him last night but he vomited it back up Sad

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noddyholder · 02/04/2006 11:45

Steroid withdrawal which is too abrupt can cause vomiting I have been v dehydrated from this in the past.I would ring the vet and ask what to do He may need a bigger initial dose to straighten him out IYSWIM That is what I usually do but I am not a dog!

noddyholder · 02/04/2006 11:45

Steroid withdrawal which is too abrupt can cause vomiting I have been v dehydrated from this in the past.I would ring the vet and ask what to do He may need a bigger initial dose to straighten him out IYSWIM That is what I usually do but I am not a dog!

Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 12:12

Lol Noddy - you can't be a dog, you're Noddy Holder!

I have rung the emergency vet and spoke to a nurse who was going to get a vet to ring me - I will ring them back in half an hour if I haven't heard, although said dog has just staggered downstairs and stolen a piece of cheese on toast. Hmmmm. I smell malingering. (He is actually v poorly - going to be scraping that cheese on toast off my rug very soon Sad)

Really appreciate the support and advice from both you and Oops Smile

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oops · 02/04/2006 14:47

i'd get him seen, sudden steroid withdrawal can be pretty serious, i hope your vet agrees.
i don't know much about noddy's situation - humans and dogs are different, but i think she was lucky that all it took to improve the situation was another dose of tabs- sometimes a drip is needed too
good luck!

noddyholder · 02/04/2006 14:51

Oops I have had IV before but I am good at spotting it now and sometimes have upped the dose myself which does work but maybe not for doggies.

oops · 02/04/2006 14:56

i think that people can realise they are feeling ill and so do something about it sooner.
animals maybe hide it for a while and then seem to be quite ill quite quickly

and the old saying about taking horses to water etc, you can't make sure the dog will drink enough either. Smile

Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 16:09

Oops - the Emergency Vet rang me back and spent ages talking to me. Explained all arrhythmia and said all Ozzy's symptoms and timing of symptoms were consistent with the serious side of withdrawal. She said to try to get him to have a drink and get a steroid down him (that would stay there) and cross fingers for improvement - I said I would take him down if he was sick again or wasn't better within an hour. Went to the supermarket (partner was with dog) and when I got back Oz nearly knocked me over with excitement, tail wagging away. He keeps looking up at his collar and hasn't been sick (gave him a double steroid dose) so I'm taking this as a good sign!

If he is sick at all anymore today I will take him to see the emergency vet immediately, but in any even I am taking him to my Vets first thing tomorrow for a check up.

That said, I'm still open to taking him to the emergency vets here and now if you think I would be wise to?

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noddyholder · 02/04/2006 16:15

Oh fab he sounds like me I sometimes take an extra steroid if I have something major coming up and I am usually hyper for the day!

oops · 02/04/2006 16:17

i think if he is acting like he feels well then just keep an eye on him.
Am glad your vet has had a good talk to you (don't tell anyone but i am a vet who has worked as an emergency vet for about 5 yrs) and she sounds like she is totally on top of the situation.
If the steroid stays down then all well and good, like noddy said, he will feel bettr quite quickly once the steroid starts taking effect.
keep an eye on him and see how it goes. Smile

oops · 02/04/2006 16:18

have you got addisons, noddy, i seem to rememeber you talking about heart transplants too, so is it just part of an anti rejection treatment?

Original poster
Squarer · 02/04/2006 16:40

Thank you both once again for your advice Smile You have no idea how much I appreciate it (and I suspect if the dog knew anything about it he would be more than appreciative!)

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noddyholder · 02/04/2006 17:02

I have had a kidney transplant and now have secondary addisons caused by lng term steroid exposure My heart is another story!Grin

oops · 03/04/2006 21:18

how's doggie today?

Original poster
Squarer · 03/04/2006 22:06

He is fabulously wonderful thanks Oops Smile. I got my dog back - I also think I got a bit more of my old dog back as I bought him a Biotech collar to offset non-steroid use (ahem, cough, who's sorreeeeee now?). With both, his tail is lifted markedly higher than it has been in over a year and he has only had the collar on for 3 days. I hope it's early days too, as I aim in the long term to wean him off the PLT's.

Hope you know just how grateful I am Smile

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Original poster
Squarer · 03/04/2006 22:08

Oh, forgot to say, he went to get his ball for the first time in ages today - it was kind of pathetic, watching him push it round with his Buster Collar to start with, but then he soon picked up the technique Grin

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