It your cat has been diagnosed with feline arthritis, your veterinarian may prescribe a steroid drug called Prednisone for long term treatment.
Prednisone, (Apo-Prednisone, Cordrol, Deltasone, Orasone and Prednicen-M) is a prescribed corticosteroid medication for cats. It is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat allergy symptoms, arthritis and various other inflammations.
Dosage
Give Prednisone to your cat exactly as instructed by your veterinarian. If you are not sure you understand these directions ask your vet or pharmacist to discuss them with you.
Give Prednisone with food and take special care to provide plenty of water with it. Typical dosage instructions for Prednisone are one tablet daily, or one tablet every other day, but some vets will prescribe more than one daily dose.
Here's what to do if you forget to give a dose:
- If you forget to give a single daily dose, then give that dose as soon as you remember.
- If you miss the single daily dose and a full day has elapsed, skip the missed dose and continue on your one dose per day schedule.
- If more than one dose per day is prescribed and you miss a dose, then dose your cat as soon as you remember on that day. You can also give two doses the next time in that event.
- If your schedule is once every other day and you miss a dose, give the dose as soon as you remember, and then return to your regimen of one dose every other day.
Watch for symptoms of an overdose. These symptoms include:
- Pantin
- Vomiting
- Increased thirst
- Unusual weight gain
- Diarrhea
- Increased urination
Signs of Cushing's syndrome
Take your cat in to the vet for treatment quickly if you see any of these symptoms.
Side Effects
Hair loss has been reported as a side effect of Prednisone. The hair will look dull before it falls out. Prednisone can make your cat excessively hungry.
Aggressive behavior, unusual skittishness or fearful behavior has been reported. These side effects have been observed along with the overdose symptoms mentioned above.
Cautions
Talk to your vet before giving any over-the-counter medications to your cat while you are giving Prednisone. Do not have your cat vaccinated while treating with Prednisone, and keep your cat away from sources of infection. If your cat has liver disease, diabetes mellitus, stomach ulcers, heart problems or other serious medical conditions, describe these to your vet before giving your cat Prednisone.