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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4429.0. "Prednisone..side effects, etc?" by BUSY::CIOFFI () Mon Mar 04 1991 15:35

    Anyone have any experience with Prednisone for an asthmatic cat?
    Jasper has been taking it for about a year now. 
    Every time we give it to him, he vomits within 12 hrs.  I spoke 
    with the vet about this but she said, he was more likely allergic
    to the food (he's been on the same kind since birth), or he has an
    ulcer (I doubt it...he eats like a pig, and only vomits...excepting
    fur balls...when he gets a pill).  I keep hearing that cats tolerate
    Prednisone very well.  He's supposed to take it every
    other day to PREVENT another asthma attack.  However, I have been
    giving it to him every 3-4 days when he starts to cough.  So far that
    has been working.  Anyone have any experience with Prednisone long
    term?
    
    Karen
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4429.1TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Mon Mar 04 1991 16:526
    Holly tolerated Prednisone well for the short time frame she
    was on it (weeks?  don't remember...)  You may be right that
    Jasper is sensitive to it, but I wonder also if the stress of being
    given the pill might cause this?  Did the vet say if a substitute to
    prednisone was available to try?
    
4429.2AIMHI::OFFENMon Mar 04 1991 17:378
    One side-effect that Black Thunder had was odd.  She was taking 
    Prednisolone right after being spayed.  As the fur grew back in
    on her tummy, it grew back *silver*.  My pure black kitty now has
    two *silver stripes* under her belly.  I think they are gorgeous.....
    like her.
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
4429.3SANFAN::FOSSATJUMon Mar 04 1991 18:047
    Stitch was on and off of Pred for rodent ulcer until we switched him to
    something else.  He's had injections of Pred as well as pills and what I
    noticed was an increase food and water intake.  Other than that and a 
    slight ?? increase in weight there were no other side effects.
    
    
    Giudi+3
4429.4continued....BUSY::CIOFFITue Mar 05 1991 08:1415
    The only thing Jasper does without a fight is take a pill.  I doubt it
    stresses him....he should be vomiting constantly when we clip his
    nails!  I will have to find out if there is a substitute for
    Prednisone.  That info wasn't offered.  Right now the every 3-4 days
    is working well, and controlling his coughing so that he doesn't go
    into another attack.  But picking up the puke is no joy....I seem to do
    that enough just with fur balls!  He does eat and drink a lot.  But his 
    drinking habits are a pain, because he will ONLY drink out of a running 
    faucet....which requires human presence.  Plus now I have to relinquish 
    the bathroom not only to my kid, but my cat....makes getting ready in
    the a.m. interesting!  Next trip to the vet (and those are as little as
    possible...because we all get stressed with his madness at being there)
    he will get checked out but good.
    
    K
4429.5TENAYA::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Tue Mar 05 1991 13:194
    Picking up puke:  I grab about a thousand paper towels (sorry,
    environment) and approach with the offending area blocked out
    of sight.
    
4429.6Could be other causes, rule those out firstWR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityTue Mar 05 1991 15:4421
    Another thought, if your cat is vomiting he may well be doing so due to
    hairballs.  There doesn't have to be any hair in the vomitus for the
    culprit to be hairballs.  The hair accumulates in the tummy, and will
    cause a cat to vomit whatever enters the stomach until the hair is 
    finally ejected one way or another.
    
    Also, you say that he vomits within 12 hours of the prednisone.  The
    stomach would digest the pred within a short time, maybe an houror so,
    and then the medication would be out of his stomach.  It is unlikely that
    once the meds were out of his stomach that it would still make him
    sick.  More likely, something else is making him sick.  With a
    sensitivity to a medication, the reaction is usually immediate, not
    many hours later.
    
    If you have decided that your cat only needs the pred every three or
    four days, then you should notify the vet that he is only getting it
    that often.  They will want to note that on his records in case of
    further problems.  Do check with the vet though.  It is never a good
    idea to change a medication without notifying a doctor or vet.
    
    Jo
4429.7Linus too...Di & LiCHIPS::URBANWed Mar 06 1991 10:299
    Linus has been taking this for years now...1/2 a pill every other day. 
    I know it really helps him because I tried at one point to give it to
    him every third day, but his coughing started again.  I also give him a
    little Laxatone every day, if he'll take it.  It seems to help his
    throat out (I actually notice more coughing if I don't give it to him)
    and helps with hair balls.  Li vomits occasionally...but that's usually
    because he's such a piglet and eats too fast, or because he hasn't
    taken his Laxatone for a couple of days.  I guess he'll be taking
    Prednisone forever.  Is this bad for them in the long-term?