The Overuse of Steroids in Veterinary Care
Reasons Why Steroids shoud be Used Sparingly
Feb 15, 2009 Adrienne Farricelli
If you own a dog, chances are high that at one time or another during your pet's life, the use of Steroids may be required. The most common use of Steroids in veterinary care consists in its anti-inflammatory properties, mainly to help the dog get relief from allergies, immune mediated disorders, arthritis, inflammatory conditions of the gastro-intestinal system and swellings. The most common prescribed Steroids in pets consist of: Prednisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone Medrol and Triamcinolone.
Steroids play a major role in both human and pet care. They are very useful and vital in treating some very serious conditions such as anaphylactic shock and brain swellings. However, Steroids are often prescribed because they provide quick results. If your dog was itching and scratching without relief throughout the night, a Steroid shot may work wonders and bring the dog back to a relaxed state. The owners will be amazed and will thank the veterinarian for his or her confidence in resolving the matter promptly and effectively.
However, Steroids often come with a long list of side effects. The most commonly seen consist of an increase in drinking and therefore, an increase in urination. Many pets will also have an increase in appetite possibly accompanied by weight gain. There have been cases of dogs exhibiting mood swings and some even becoming aggressive. Others may have had panting episodes. These may be temporary symptoms, that will disappear once the medication is tapered off.
Tapering off from Steroid medications is a very important process. Because Steroids tend to mimic a chemical found in the dog's system and produced by the adrenal glands (adrenaline), the dog's body will decrease the production of such chemical. If stopped too suddenly, the dog's body may react to the sudden deficit of adrenaline. Tapering off the medication will therefore, allow time for the body to adjust and accordingly resume producing adrenaline in normal quantities.
The biggest issues though, appear to arise with the long term use or misuse of Steroids. These are cases where the dog was put on Steroids for months. The dog's body will undergo internal changes that may cause significant disorders. The most common disease resulting from the overuse of Steroids is Cushing's disease. This potentially fatal disorder however, may be reversed upon tapering off the Steroids.
Steroids have also been associated with higher risks of developing cataracts. Some dogs have developed gastric ulcers. Levels of minerals such as Calcium and Iron may be reduced when using Steroids. Diabetes and Pancreas disorders are not that uncommon. There have also been cases, where Steroid use has been associated with increased levels of liver values, especially alkaline phosphatase. This is called: Glucocorticoid Hepatomegaly.
As effective as Steroids may be, they are double edged sword medications that must be used with extreme caution. While Steroids in the past were used very sparingly when other medications were not effective, it seems that nowadays, they have reverted to a primary role and put in the front portion of the shelf. If your veterinarian appears to prescribe Steroids a bit more often than you would like, discuss the possibility of safeguarding your dog's health and using alternate medications first.
Watch your dog for steroid side effects
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