steroids

[Lurchers]

What are the long-term side-effects of steroids? My 7-year old lurcher bitch is taking them.

Thank you

[Eels]

Long-term (by this I mean high doses for several months or years) the dog is at risk of Cushing's disease, a treatable endocrine disease which causes long fluffy hair growth, thirst and hunger, a pot-bellied appearance and altered fat distribution.  The animal is also at risk of infection because the immune system is depressed by high doses of steroids.

Short-term effects include hunger and thirst mainly, accompanied with extra weeing! 

Why is your dog on this medication?  It is highly likely that the vet has weighed up the pros and cons of this course of treatment carefully.  For many dogs, steroids afford a quality of life which would be unachievable otherwise, and in these cases we shouldn't be scared of using the drugs.  Better a shortened, happy life to a long but poor-quality life.

[Albert Park]

I have an English Bull Terrier (Ella) who was prescribed steroids (tablets) and had steroid injections to cure a skin condition. Although it helped with Ella's skin we noticed a change in her temperament - she became very agitated and a showed signs of aggression.

The vet advised to curtail the steroids, to be replaced by antibiotics. These were no where near as effective as the steroids but Ella's personality returned nearly to what it used to be. We have to be a bit careful when out walking as she sometimes gets rattled when she's on the lead and other dogs are around. She's fine off the lead though. The vet thinks this is a result of the steroid medication.