Question by Sarah: How long must a dog be on prednisone for it to be considered long term?
My dog has skin allergies but my vet does not often give me helpful details about his medication- ie. long term use of steroid shots could have harmful effects. I am aware of the long and short term effects, but my dog has been to the vet 5 times in 2 yrs and received either a prednisone or dexamethasone shot along with some other form of steroid tablet each time. He’s gained 10 lbs in 2 years (and is now a 45 lb boston terrier), so I’m concerned about his health. Is this long term though, or is that considered to be something else?
I am definitely going to find a new vet. He never mentioned food allergies or other potential causes, and he only told me that the injection would make my dog thirsty but nothing else. Money is an issue, so seeing a dermatologist would be tough to do right now. His symptoms seem most like atopy or food allergies, so I’ll probably try new food and see what that does. Any suggestions for hypoallergenic food?

Best answer:

Answer by michelle
If you aren’t happy with what your vet is telling you about what he’s putting into your dog it’s time to see a new vet.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

My dog has skin allergies but my vet does not often give me helpful details about his medication- ie. long term use of steroid shots could have harmful effects. I am aware of the long and short term effects, but my dog has been to the vet 5 times in 2 yrs and received either a prednisone or dexamethasone shot along with some other form of steroid tablet each time. He’s gained 10 lbs in 2 years (and is now a 45 lb boston terrier), so I’m concerned about his health. Is this long term though, or is that considered to be something else?
I am definitely going to find a new vet. He never mentioned food allergies or other potential causes, and he only told me that the injection would make my dog thirsty but nothing else. Money is an issue, so seeing a dermatologist would be tough to do right now. His symptoms seem most like atopy or food allergies, so I’ll probably try new food and see what that does. Any suggestions for hypoallergenic food?

My 2 yr old Lhasa, Bree, was put on prednisone about 3-4 weeks ago for a flea allergy. Her behavior has changed suddenly and she doesn’t seem to be acting right. What are the side effects of this medication? Long and short term. Should I take her to the vet to get checked out or wait until her medication is finished?