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Glucocorticoid treatment has been associated with increased risk of urinary tract infection among dogs with skin disease (5, 6, 8). Dogs administered long-term hydrocortisone showed side effects including thinning of skin, PUPD (9).
Immune-mediated disease is a common diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in dogs and cats. Glucocorticoids are considered the mainstay of therapy for most immune-mediated diseases, but numerous other immunosuppressive drugs are available for severe or refractory cases.
Glucocorticoids suppress virtually every component of the inflammatory process; they inhibit PLA2, decrease synthesis of interleukins and numerous other proinflammatory cytokines, suppress cell-mediated immunity, reduce complement synthesis, and decrease production and activity of leukocytes.
Glucocorticoid doses generally include an anti-inflammatory dose that is lower and an immune-suppressive dose that is higher, though with long enough term use, lower doses will become immune-suppressive.
Pets receiving glucocorticoids are prone to development of diabetic ketoacidosis and should be carefully evaluated if presented for vomiting or lethargy. Some cats, and very rarely dogs, will transiently become diabetic while undergoing steroid therapy.
Acute canine protocol. Treat the inflammation and pruritus with two to five days of glucocorticoid therapy consisting of either a short-acting oral glucocorticoid or single injection of a short-acting glucocorticoid.
Learn more about corticosteroids for dogs with AnimalWised. We explain the types of of corticosteroids used in veterinary medicine, what they are used to treat, what side-effects of corticosteroids may present and we provide a guide on likely dosage.
How do I reduce the risk of any of these side effects in my dog? Fortunately, most dogs can safely use corticosteroids if a few simple guidelines are followed, such as: Avoid using glucocorticoids on a daily basis except when specifically instructed by your veterinarian.
Adjusting doses: As there are few studies comparing protocols for tapering immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory therapy with glucocorticoids, it is appropriate to adjust the therapy according to laboratory or clinical parameters.
Topical glucocorticoids (TGC) are among the oldest and most efficient treatments to control inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disorders (1). In veterinary medicine, TGC are less attractive than in human medicine due to the density of hair and pet behavior (pets often lick the area where the topicals are applied).