prednisone and cats

[mindymo]

Hi members,
I just joined today.I would love to hear your expeiences with prednisone and cats. I have a 14 year old kitty with IBS and a 2 year old kitty with athma. They a have both gone on prednisone. The asthmatic hopefully, temporarily. the cat with IBS ... who knows. What have been your expeeriences with prednisone? Thanks,Mind

[SARAH]

Steroids aren't my favourites, even for humans :sad: Is that the only thing that will help your cat? If you can find a natural remedy/lifestyle for him/her(?) it's usually the best. Sadly however, it's not always possible, or the vets (Drs.) don't know enough about it to advise and guide you.

Oh, and pls, pics of the kitties!

[mindymo]

Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your reply. We didnt try the natural course. Frankly, I wanted QUICK relief for my little clem { the cat withIBS]. It looked like she was failing... and we thought we might lose her. As for Sam...the asthmatic cat we ae hopeful the prednisone will be for about a month... since he has a mild case of asthma. Do you think prednsone is dangerous for teh short haul? thnks,mindy

[SARAH]

No, shouldn't be. Especially at controlled doses. I've just got a general waryness of the medics but for sure, if you need a quick fix, take it! Then ease into the natural treatement after the crisis is over (whatever the natural would entail in the situation you are in).

[Love4himies]

Prednisone is not good for long term use in humans or cats and should be used only as a last resort.

You mentioned your cat has IBS, or do you mean IBD? One is a syndrome which is the colon movement of food is too fast or slow, the other is a disease of the colon itself (Colitis or Crohnes). Many symptoms of IBD and IBS in cats and dogs can be eliminated with diet change, unless it is a true IBD which is an autoimmune disease and steriods to get it under control, then tapering off should be done.

Have you done any experimentation with diet with your cat?

[sugarcatmom]

I agree that a diet change for the IBD kitty should be your primary treatment plan. A grain-free canned food or even better, a raw diet, are the best options. What does she eat now? What are her symtpoms (diarrhea, vomiting, both?). You might be interested in reading some more info here: http://www.catnutrition.org/ibd.php

As for the asthmatic, please read this website for some up-to-date info on treating with an Aerokat asthma inhaler: http://www.fritzthebrave.com/

Like Love4himies said, long term prednisone is never desirable unless there are no other options. I know many a cat that became diabetic from pred.

[mindymo]

Thank- you all for your replies! The cat with IBS { Not IBD} is doing better, but still isnt really eating as much as she should be. She is on Reglan,Prednisone, a generic antacid, and an appetite stimulant. I am afraid to take he off the Prednisone until she is eating properly again, for fear of a relapse. My asthmatic kitty is doing fine on the prednisone. He has only been on it for a week. Oddly enough I had a15 year old cat who died as a result of asthma. She was on the inhaler. With the inhaler it was almost impossible to figure out how much meds she was actually getting. I refused to put my current cat on an inhaler...In a few days he gets half the prednsione.. and then a week later half again. He is off completely in two weeks. I am afraid to keep him on the prednsone... but even more afraid of what asthma can do.

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by mindymo

Thank- you all for your replies! The cat with IBS { Not IBD} is doing better, but still isnt really eating as much as she should be.

IBS tends to have a psychological (stress) component, has your vet talked about trying anti-anxiety meds like amitriptyline at all?

Originally Posted by mindymo

My asthmatic kitty is doing fine on the prednisone. He has only been on it for a week. Oddly enough I had a15 year old cat who died as a result of asthma. She was on the inhaler. With the inhaler it was almost impossible to figure out how much meds she was actually getting. I refused to put my current cat on an inhaler...In a few days he gets half the prednsione.. and then a week later half again. He is off completely in two weeks. I am afraid to keep him on the prednsone... but even more afraid of what asthma can do.

Sorry to hear about your other kitty. that you find a pred protocol that does the trick for your current asthma cat. For sure it's better to deal with other problems if they come up and keep the asthma under control.