Can dogs get side effects from cortisone?

Dogs are sometimes treated with cortisone, just like us humans. Treatment with the drug can have both short-term and long-term side effects that cause different symptoms in your dog. In this article, you will find out which symptoms to watch out for.

What are the most common short-term side effects?

Short-term side effects are those that we expect a pet to experience and develop when they have recently been put on cortisone as a treatment. Exactly which side effects the dog gets and how serious they are depends on several factors such as the disease to be treated, the dose, how long the dog has been on cortisone and any other medication.

Increased thirst and urination
Increased appetite
The dog often starts panting more, increased breathing
Changed energy level in some dogs which can be interpreted as anxiety
Any infection may break out or an existing one may worsen
Vomiting or nausea (less common)

Some prediabetic dogs can become diabetic (develop diabetes) after cortisone use. In many cases, the symptoms of diabetes disappear when the treatment ends.

If some of these side effects occur, they can often be eliminated by reducing the dose of the cortisone treatment. In some cases, your veterinarian may prescribe a different type of cortisone that often has fewer of the side effects described above. The goal is to use as little cortisone as possible and with as few side effects as possible so that the treatment is still effective.

What are some of the most common long-term side effects?

Some diseases and medical conditions require long-term treatment with cortisone. When cortisone needs to be prescribed for more than 3-4 months, new side effects can cause problems. The most common are:

Increased risk of bacterial infections. For example, urinary tract infections are seen in up to 30% of our dogs and cats receiving cortisone. Cortisone inhibits the body's inflammation system, which makes it easier for infections to take hold and cause a urinary tract infection.