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Introduction to Steroids – IBDKitties.Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats
Feline ibd prednisone. Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats
Inflammatory bowel disease IBD is a syndrome rather than a disease. The syndrome is caused by a specific reaction to chronic irritation of the stomach or intestines. Other inflammatory cells called neutrophils destroy bacteria or clean up damaged tissues. With chronic or long-term inflammation, normal tissue may be replaced by fibrous scar-like tissue. IBD can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the stomach to the small and large intestines.
Typical symptoms seen at home can be any combination of the following — vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and poor appetite.
The chronic irritation that causes IBD stimulates the body to send cells from the immune system to the area. The most commonly found cells are lymphocytes and plasmacytes.
Occasionally, eosinophils and neutrophils will be found. Thus, IBD is diagnosed when these cells are identified in abnormal levels in the tissue. The specific type of ibd is definitively diagnosed based on tissue biopsies. Obtaining these samples requires general anesthesia. Depending on the suspected location of the ibd, your veterinarian may recommend either an endoscopic procedure or a full abdominal exploratory surgery. If the stomach, upper small intestine or lower large intestine is suspected to be involved, the procedure may be performed via endoscopy.
If the lower small intestine or upper large intestine is involved, an exploratory surgery may be recommended, as these areas are not accessible to an endoscope. With surgery, the abdominal wall is opened similar to a spay procedure in order to obtain samples from the affected organs. The tissue biopsies will be sent to a veterinary pathologist for diagnosis.
The pathologist will give a descriptive diagnosis to the syndrome, depending on the predominant type of inflammatory cells present in the biopsies.
The tissue reaction that occurs in the stomach, small intestine, or colon is diagnosed with biopsy. However, determining what is causing the tissue reaction to occur usually requires further testing. Tests or treatments will be performed to rule out stomach and intestinal parasites, and infections. Blood tests to rule out problems with the kidneys, liver, and pancreas, as well as diseases such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes, are performed. In some cases, the exact cause cannot be determined.
The ideal way to treat this problem is to diagnose the underlying disease that is causing the reaction. If an exact cause cannot be found, the disease is called idiopathic. That means that a disease is present, but there is no identifiable cause. Many cases of ibd are considered idiopathic. Some cats with more mild forms of ibd respond to a change in diet. This is done in two ways. First, a prescription hypoallergenic food can be used.
If that is not effective, a high-fiber diet is tried. Unfortunately, a true food trial requires that the test diet be fed exclusively for six to twelve weeks.
In all food trials, no treats or other foods may be given at all. If dietary therapy is not successful or is infeasible, and no underlying cause can be found, drugs are used to suppress the inflammatory reaction.
Corticosteroids are generally the most effective medications and are used initially. Other drugs are tried if corticosteroids are not successful.
Corticosteroids are notorious for causing a variety of side effects in humans. However, cats appear to be somewhat resistant to side effects from these medications. Initially, cats need to be started on a high dose of corticosteroids to control their inflammation. As a result, some side effects are inevitable, including — increased thirst, urination and appetite. More serious side effects are rare. When a cat has been treated with steroids for more than a few days, it is extremely important that the dose be tapered down gradually and not stopped abruptly, so that the body can adapt to the withdrawal of the medication.
At least several months of prednisone therapy should be expected. Although we start at a high dose, the dose is decreased gradually so we can use the lowest dose that is effective to control clinical signs. Some cats can be tapered off medication completely, others require low dose prednisone for life. Prednisolone and the related drug prednisone are the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs with the least side effects.
In more severe cases of ibd, sometimes a second drug is also used to help control the inflammation. Some spiral-shaped bacteria can cause chronic vomiting in cats. The most common of these bacteria is helicobacter pylori. These bacteria have been shown to be the cause of disease, including stomach ulcers, in humans and are pathogens found in cats. However, they are also found in many normal cats and humans who do not experience any vomiting or stomach ulcers.
Therefore, just finding spiral-shaped bacteria on biopsy is not always meaningful. It is considered a pathogen only if there is an associated inflammation in the stomach mucosa. Usually when found in humans, successful treatment may require several medications or combinations of medications.
Currently we are using what is effective in humans to treat cats. This approach is successful in some cats, but we are continuing to determine the most effective means of treatment. This is a concern for all of us who have cats. It has been demonstrated that many people have these bacteria in their stomach for decades before disease occurs.
Therefore, it is almost impossible to know the source of the bacteria. It is doubtful that cats are involved in the transmission process, but that has not been determined at this time. Some cats are meticulous groomers. These cats usually swallow hair every day. Since hair is not digestible, it could represent a source of chronic irritation to the stomach or intestines.
Frequent brushing and the use of hairball medications may be recommended for cats with ibd, especially if they have a history of vomiting or passing hairballs. The role of hairballs in ibd has not yet been fully determined. If a positive response occurs to a diet change, the cat can be maintained on the new diet for the rest of its life, provided the diet is appropriately balanced.
If the cat responds to medication for stomach bacteria, a good prognosis is justified. If response occurs to corticosteroids, the long-term prognosis is also good if administration of the drug is feasible. However, if there is no response to diet or corticosteroids, the prognosis is more guarded.
In these cases, further testing is suggested to see if an underlying disease can be identified. Search for:. Send to Email Address. Your Name. Your Email Address. Second most common form in cats Tends to be more severe than lymphocytic-plasmacytic form Two forms exist in cats.
Need to exclude bacterial infection as a cause of the infiltrate. This client information sheet is based on material written by: ernest ward, dvm and edited by stefeny pollack, dvm, dacvim- internal medicine.
❾-50%}- Feline ibd prednisone
Essentially, budesonide is inactivated percent by the liver. Other corticosteroids influence the biochemical behavior of most tissues of the body, hence the higher incidence of systemic side effects. As with all steroids, liver function should be closely monitored in patients taking budesonide, and used with caution in patients with decreased liver function. Wendy C. This means that even the minimal amount that does get absorbed can be significant and it appears that the more inflamed the bowel lining is, the more budesonide is absorbed into the body.
Dosage recommendations for budesonide vary, but the standard is generally 1 mg. However, doses may range from. This is because you are going from a drug with a high systemic effect to one with low systemic availability. Thus, symptoms of withdrawal, such as acute adrenal suppression, may occur. As with all medication changes this is something that should be discussed and coordinated with your veterinarian. In addition, its lower risk of systemic side effects is a compelling reason for choosing this drug over other options.
Budesonide has been used successfully with cats for a number of years now and many vets are quite comfortable prescribing it for their feline IBD patients. Update As a topical steroid that works directly on the intestines when taken orally, budesonide does carry less risk for development of diabetes and complications with heart disease. As with all medications, it is helpful for some cats and not with others. If the inflammation is in a different section or area of the intestines, it may not be effective.
It lasts between one to six weeks, with an average effectiveness of three to five weeks. It is an option that can be used in lieu of steroid pills and liquids for hard to medicate cats. Depo-Medrol is usually more of a short-term steroid solution than the others discussed in this article. For reasons that are still unclear, this medication often stops working after several months. Additionally, there can be an increased risk of side effects such as diabetes when it is used long-term.
Most veterinarians today prefer to use oral forms of short-acting steroids prednisolone or budesonide so they can easily change the dosage as needed to moderate drug effectiveness and adverse reactions. Dexamethasone Another corticosteroid that may be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease is dexamethasone.
For that reason, the required dosing for dexamethasone is typically much lower and it can sometimes be administered less frequently than other corticosteroids i. As with many other medications, dexamethasone is available in multiple forms, but it is most commonly distributed in. The latter option may be helpful for cats that are difficult to pill or resist compounded medication being added to their food. The side effects for dexamethasone are similar to those for other corticosteroids, although increased urination has been seen less frequently with this medication.
One study comparing dexamethasone versus prednisolone on the potential development of diabetes showed that dexamethasone exhibits a greater diabetogenic effect in cats, which may be due to its longer-acting nature.
Atopica Cyclosporine Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant that works by blocking white blood cells from organizing and responding to infection or invasion. Atopica is an oral form of cyclosporine that has been modified for better absorption in the intestinal tract. It is typically used to control feline allergic dermatitis and other immune-system based skin conditions in cats.
In more severe cases of ibd, sometimes a second drug is also used to help control the inflammation. Some spiral-shaped bacteria can cause chronic vomiting in cats. The most common of these bacteria is helicobacter pylori. These bacteria have been shown to be the cause of disease, including stomach ulcers, in humans and are pathogens found in cats.
However, they are also found in many normal cats and humans who do not experience any vomiting or stomach ulcers. Therefore, just finding spiral-shaped bacteria on biopsy is not always meaningful. It is considered a pathogen only if there is an associated inflammation in the stomach mucosa.
Usually when found in humans, successful treatment may require several medications or combinations of medications. Currently we are using what is effective in humans to treat cats.
This approach is successful in some cats, but we are continuing to determine the most effective means of treatment. This is a concern for all of us who have cats. It has been demonstrated that many people have these bacteria in their stomach for decades before disease occurs. Therefore, it is almost impossible to know the source of the bacteria. It is doubtful that cats are involved in the transmission process, but that has not been determined at this time. Some cats are meticulous groomers. These cats usually swallow hair every day.
Since hair is not digestible, it could represent a source of chronic irritation to the stomach or intestines. Frequent brushing and the use of hairball medications may be recommended for cats with ibd, especially if they have a history of vomiting or passing hairballs.
The role of hairballs in ibd has not yet been fully determined. If a positive response occurs to a diet change, the cat can be maintained on the new diet for the rest of its life, provided the diet is appropriately balanced.
If the cat responds to medication for stomach bacteria, a good prognosis is justified. If response occurs to corticosteroids, the long-term prognosis is also good if administration of the drug is feasible. However, if there is no response to diet or corticosteroids, the prognosis is more guarded. In these cases, further testing is suggested to see if an underlying disease can be identified.
Search for:. As response to this therapy is generally very good and of a prolonged duration rescue protocols are not well described, but both radiation and cyclophosphamide may be of potential benefit. Median survival times with multi-agent chemotherapy protocols for the lymphoblastic form is reported to be approximately 6—7 months, 10 whilst for LGL it is only 57 days 5. Almost half of the cats that have a complete response to therapy will live longer than 1 year.
The chemotherapy protocols are generally CHOP cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine based, with or without the addition of L-asparaginase. Single agent therapy does not appear to be beneficial, but lomustine in one study did appear to well tolerated and of comparable efficacy to multi-agent protocols.
Radiation therapy may also be helpful at prolonging survival if available, and appears to be well tolerated in cats. Surgical resection alone does not confer prolonged survival benefit. In addition to multi-agent chemotherapy, cats with lymphoblastic or LGL lymphoma are typically very unwell. They often require supportive therapy including fluid support, antibiotics and enteral nutrition. As discussed earlier for IBD, cobalamin supplementation and dietary modification are also beneficial for cats with all forms of GI lymphoma.
The prognosis for GI adenocarcinoma remains grave in cats, and usually by the time of diagnosis the lesion is not able to be surgically resected. Treatment is generally palliative, and aims to reduce gastric acidity, as well as providing analgesia and nutritional support. J Vet Intern Med ;— J Feline Med Surg ;— Eur J Comp Gastroenterol ;— Vet Comp Oncol ;— J Am Vet Med Assoc ;— Vet Radiol Ultrasound ;— Back to Gastroenterology Gastroenterology.
Inflammatory bowel disease IBD is a common condition in cats. Inflammation can affect any part of the bowel, and the inflammation is typically lymphocytic-plasmacytic.
Vomiting and decreased appetite are the most common clinical signs in cats, with weight loss and diarrhoea also relatively common. Severe cases may also develop hypoproteinaemia, and associated fluid accumulation. The major differentials for IBD include dietary sensitivity and there is a large overlap between this and IBDalimentary neoplasia, hyperthyroidism, renal disease, hepatic disease and pancreatitis. The syndrome of 'triaditis' where 2 or more of IBD, cholangiohepatitis and pancreatitis coexist is well described.
The GI tract is now the most common anatomical location for lymphoma in cats. Large granular lymphoma LGL is a sub-type of lymphoblastic lymphoma where the T lymphocytes possess intracytoplasmic granules, and has a grave prognosis 5. Small cell lymphoma is the main differential diagnosis for IBD, as clinical signs are very similar. The site predisposition for small cell lymphoma is the distal small bowel 6particularly the ileum, and so diagnosis may be missed if this section is not biopsied.
There is significant overlap histologically between IBD and small cell lymphoma as well. Adenocarcinoma of the GI tract is rare in cats, but has been reported. When it does occur cats present with significant weight loss, anaemia and haematemesis. As cobalamin is absorbed in the ileum of cats, it is not surprising that cats with both IBD and lymphoma are likely to have cobalamin deficiency.
It has been shown that cobalamin supplementation improves clinical signs in cats with GI disease regardless of the underlying cause. Prior to treatment for IBD, cats should be fully evaluated to ensure there are no concurrent diseases such as diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism that may interfere with treatment or account for the clinical signs.
Dietary modification is very important in cats with chronic GI disease, and even more so if there is concurrent pruritis, as there is an increased index of suspicion for food sensitivity. Response to diets typically occurs within 1—2 weeks. If cats are not dietary responsive and there is a confirmed diagnosis of IBD, then either antibiotic therapy or immune suppression can be started. Generally, if there is a partial response to diet, or suggestion of pancreatic involvement I will try antibiotic therapy first, again hoping for a response within 2—3 weeks.
Dietary therapy should ideally be given in conjunction with this. Alternative forms of glucocorticoids, such as budesonide which is absorbed locally and has fewer systemic effects, have not been critically evaluated in cats. If after dietary modification and treatment with glucocorticoids and cobalamin there is still a poor response, the initial diagnosis should be reviewed. If intestinal biopsies have not been obtained previously, then they should be strongly encouraged at this point in time.
If additional immune suppression is required, or there is a desire to withdraw the glucocorticoids, chlorambucil remains the additional immune suppressive drug of choice in cats at present. Although theoretically ciclosporin may be beneficial, there is no evaluation of comparative efficacy between the two drugs.
The use of probiotics, or 'beneficial' bacteria is under evaluation in a number in people with IBD, and this shows mixed results. Probiotics have been shown to be well tolerated in cats, but the benefit in cats with IBD has not been determined. Supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is also advocated by some authors to theoretically reduce inflammation in the intestine. There is no universally accepted preference for giving chlorambucil as either a bolus dose or alternate-day dosing intervals.
Bolus dosing has the advantage of less owner exposure, but clinical superiority is not known. Reported dosages for chlorambucil include:. As response to this therapy is generally very good and of a prolonged duration rescue protocols are not well described, but both radiation and cyclophosphamide may be of potential benefit. Median survival times with multi-agent chemotherapy protocols for the lymphoblastic form is reported to be approximately 6—7 months, 10 whilst for LGL it is only 57 days 5.
Almost half of the cats that have a complete response to therapy will live longer than 1 year. The chemotherapy protocols are generally CHOP cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine based, with or without the addition of L-asparaginase. Single agent therapy does not appear to be beneficial, but lomustine in one study did appear to well tolerated and of comparable efficacy to multi-agent protocols.
Radiation therapy may also be helpful at prolonging survival if available, and appears to be well tolerated in cats. Surgical resection alone does not confer prolonged survival benefit.
In addition to multi-agent chemotherapy, cats with lymphoblastic or LGL lymphoma are typically very unwell. They often require supportive therapy including fluid support, antibiotics and enteral nutrition. As discussed earlier for IBD, cobalamin supplementation and dietary modification are also beneficial for cats with all forms of GI lymphoma. The prognosis for GI adenocarcinoma remains grave in cats, and usually by the time of diagnosis the lesion is not able to be surgically resected.
Treatment is generally palliative, and aims to reduce gastric acidity, as well as providing analgesia and nutritional support. J Vet Intern Med ;— J Feline Med Surg ;— Eur J Comp Gastroenterol ;— Vet Comp Oncol ;— J Am Vet Med Assoc ;— Vet Radiol Ultrasound ;— Back to Gastroenterology Gastroenterology. Definitions Inflammatory bowel disease IBD is a common condition in cats. IBD Prior to treatment for IBD, cats should be fully evaluated to ensure there are no concurrent diseases such as diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism that may interfere with treatment or account for the clinical signs.
New Directions The use of probiotics, or 'beneficial' bacteria is under evaluation in a number in people with IBD, and this shows mixed results.
Adenocarcinoma The prognosis for GI adenocarcinoma remains grave in cats, and usually by the time of diagnosis the lesion is not able to be surgically resected.
References 1. Trepanier L. J Feline Med Surg ; J Vet Intern Med ;
Prednisolone is usually started at 1–3 mg/kg daily, and this dosage is to be tapered every 3–4 weeks once clinical response has been attained. Clinical signs of. prednisolone and prednisone are the most commonly used corticosteroids. When a cat has been treated with steroids for more than a few days. Feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex, poorly prednisolone in place of prednisone in cats when possible, as they do not. prednisolone and prednisone are the most commonly used corticosteroids. When a cat has been treated with steroids for more than a few days. Prednisone/prednisolone. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment for canine and feline IBD. These drugs are usually prescribed at a. However, it has also been used successfully in the management of Feline IBD. Prednisolone and the related drug prednisone are the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs with the least side effects. Bolus dosing has the advantage of less owner exposure, but clinical superiority is not known.Corticosteroids, or steroids for short, are typically the key drugs prescribed by veterinarians for this condition. This article covers some basic information about corticosteroids, the various types of steroids, why one type may be used over another, potential side effects, and other important things to know.
One of the mainstays of managing feline inflammatory bowel disease is the use of corticosteroids, or steroids for short. While we pet parents would like to avoid giving our cats strong pharmaceuticals, the critical nature of the disease often makes it unmanageable without using steroids to reduce the intestinal inflammation.
While cats generally handle these types of drugs much better than dogs or humans, there is still a risk of side effects, most notably diabetes, especially with long-term use. What are Corticosteroids Corticosteroids are a class of hormones that are produced in the adrenal glands.
They are involved in a wide range of bodily functions, including the stress response, immune system response, control of inflammation, nutrient metabolism, and the maintenance of blood electrolyte levels.
Corticosteroid medications mimic the effects of the hormones that are naturally produced by the adrenal glands. When prescribed in doses that exceed the levels that are normally present in the body, corticosteroids suppress inflammation. This can reduce the signs and symptoms of various types of inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease. Thus, corticosteroids are a valuable class of medications in the management of Feline IBD.
If your cat had an ultrasound done that highlighted suspected IBD IBD can only be definitively diagnosed through an intestinal biopsy , you were likely told that intestinal thickening was observed.
This is a hallmark of the disease and steroids may be used to decrease this inflammation on either a short or long-term basis. There are several different types of steroids that can be used to help manage Feline IBD. These medications are available in multiple formats, including pills, chewable tablets, compounded liquids, transdermal gels, and injections. The forms available will vary depending upon the type of steroid prescribed.
The following are the steroids generally prescribed for Feline IBD. It is important to understand the difference between these two steroids, as people often get them confused and they are not the same. The primary distinction is that prednisone needs to be converted by the liver into prednisolone before it can be utilized by the body. Studies have shown that oral prednisolone has a better bioavailability for the feline patient than oral prednisone, as evidenced by a higher concentration of prednisolone in blood samples when equal amounts of both drugs were given to the same animals.
Then the dosage is often decreased to 5 mg. Higher doses are sometimes used for severe or resistant IBD cases. While side effects can occur in cats that are given steroids, especially for long periods of time, the incidence of these problems is lower than what is seen in either humans or dogs. That said there are issues that may arise in some cats. Some of these possible side effects include increased hunger, increased thirst and urination, loss of energy, behavior changes, development or worsening of infections especially of the skin , vomiting or nausea less common , and in rare instances, personality changes.
The most common mistakes made during treatment are starting off with too low a dose of prednisolone or not giving the drug for a long enough period of time. Of course, steroid treatments are often more effective when combined with other adjunct therapies, including food changes, B injections, probiotics, digestive enzymes and oftentimes anti-nausea medication. Budesonide Entocort Budesonide is an alternate steroid that may also be prescribed by veterinarians for dogs and cats with inflammatory bowel disease.
Budesonide is taken orally and moved along the gastrointestinal tract along with the rest of the intestinal content. Along the way, the inflamed intestinal lining is bathed with corticosteroid treatment, similar to when you rub a cortisone cream on your irritated skin.
Budesonide has a lower risk of side effects due to its high level of first pass metabolism. When the drug is swallowed, it is immediately absorbed by the digestive system, performing as a locally-acting steroid on the irritated and inflamed gastrointestinal tract of IBD sufferers. It then enters the liver through the hepatic portal vein. The liver then metabolizes the drug, forming metabolites that have very weak systemic activity, resulting in a lower incidence of systemic side effects.
Veterinarians have used both drugs successfully in their feline IBD patients, so they are both viable options to be considered for your cat. Essentially, budesonide is inactivated percent by the liver. Other corticosteroids influence the biochemical behavior of most tissues of the body, hence the higher incidence of systemic side effects. As with all steroids, liver function should be closely monitored in patients taking budesonide, and used with caution in patients with decreased liver function.
Wendy C. This means that even the minimal amount that does get absorbed can be significant and it appears that the more inflamed the bowel lining is, the more budesonide is absorbed into the body. Dosage recommendations for budesonide vary, but the standard is generally 1 mg. However, doses may range from. This is because you are going from a drug with a high systemic effect to one with low systemic availability.
Thus, symptoms of withdrawal, such as acute adrenal suppression, may occur. As with all medication changes this is something that should be discussed and coordinated with your veterinarian.
In addition, its lower risk of systemic side effects is a compelling reason for choosing this drug over other options. Budesonide has been used successfully with cats for a number of years now and many vets are quite comfortable prescribing it for their feline IBD patients. Update As a topical steroid that works directly on the intestines when taken orally, budesonide does carry less risk for development of diabetes and complications with heart disease.
As with all medications, it is helpful for some cats and not with others. If the inflammation is in a different section or area of the intestines, it may not be effective. It lasts between one to six weeks, with an average effectiveness of three to five weeks. It is an option that can be used in lieu of steroid pills and liquids for hard to medicate cats. Depo-Medrol is usually more of a short-term steroid solution than the others discussed in this article.
For reasons that are still unclear, this medication often stops working after several months. Additionally, there can be an increased risk of side effects such as diabetes when it is used long-term. Most veterinarians today prefer to use oral forms of short-acting steroids prednisolone or budesonide so they can easily change the dosage as needed to moderate drug effectiveness and adverse reactions.
Dexamethasone Another corticosteroid that may be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease is dexamethasone. For that reason, the required dosing for dexamethasone is typically much lower and it can sometimes be administered less frequently than other corticosteroids i. As with many other medications, dexamethasone is available in multiple forms, but it is most commonly distributed in.
The latter option may be helpful for cats that are difficult to pill or resist compounded medication being added to their food. The side effects for dexamethasone are similar to those for other corticosteroids, although increased urination has been seen less frequently with this medication.
One study comparing dexamethasone versus prednisolone on the potential development of diabetes showed that dexamethasone exhibits a greater diabetogenic effect in cats, which may be due to its longer-acting nature.
Atopica Cyclosporine Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant that works by blocking white blood cells from organizing and responding to infection or invasion. Atopica is an oral form of cyclosporine that has been modified for better absorption in the intestinal tract. It is typically used to control feline allergic dermatitis and other immune-system based skin conditions in cats. However, it has also been used successfully in the management of Feline IBD.
And like budesonide, it is less likely to cause systemic side effects. The usual dosage of Atopica for cats varies from 2. The medication is typically given once per day for weeks and then may be tapered to every other day or twice weekly as needed to maintain the therapeutic effect. Atopica is best given on an empty stomach either one hour before or two hours after a meal to help facilitate absorption. Generic cyclosporine should be avoided, as its bioavailability has not been tested in dogs or cats.
While Atopica can be effective in treating Feline IBD, there are several cautions for pet owners to be aware of. This medication may increase the risk of infections, including toxoplasmosis, so it is recommended that cats on this drug be kept indoors and not be fed a raw diet.
Atopica should not be used in cats with liver disease, as it is removed from the body by the liver and places additional stress on that organ. It is also best avoided in cats with a history of cancer. As stated in the product insert from the manufacturer, prolonged use of Atopica may increase susceptibility to the development of tumors, including lymphoma, due to the suppression of the immune system.
Side Effects of Steroids You may have taken steroids yourself for a medical condition or know someone else who has. If so, you may be worried about the potential side effects of these drugs, including weight gain, water retention, and mood changes. Both short-term and long-term side effects can occur with steroid usage.
Some of the possible short-term side effects include:. The increased hunger that may be seen in cats taking steroids is often welcomed by their owners, as cats with IBD often eat less than they used to.
This is especially helpful when working to change to a novel protein diet or to higher quality food sources e. However, this side effect is not seen in all cats and may also be temporary. In addition, some cats may have a reduced appetite when taking steroids, but this is less commonly seen. The other short-term side effects are things to watch out for and to share with your veterinarian if noticed.
If the side effects are unmanageable, the steroid dosage may need to be adjusted or an alternate steroid or another drug may need to be used. When steroids are used for more than three or four months, particularly at higher doses, additional side effects may be encountered.
The most commonly seen long-term side effects include:. Most steroid protocols require daily use only during the initial treatment phase and then the dosage is often dropped down to every other day.
The preferred way to give steroids on a long-term basis is to administer them every other evening. The dose must be tapered under the supervision of your veterinarian.
Home Introduction to Steroids.
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