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My dog is having bad Prednisone side effects. How do I taper him?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 8 years and 4 months old | 88 lbs

My dog was on Prednisone 50mg twice a day for 8 days, IHow do I taper him off of it, horrible side effects

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jeffrey Milner

Veterinarian

Published on May 6th, 2017

Sorry to hear about the side effects the Prednisone has been having on Hachi. It certainly can be a drug that, while it has its place, can be difficult for animals to handle on a daily basis. Before beginning a taper, I would speak to your vet about the side effects of the drugs. Depending on the purpose of the prednisone, it could be very important to keep Hachi on the drug for a little longer. Another factor that will play into the tapering period is how long Hachi has been on the drug. If he has only been on the drug for less than 5-7 days, a very short taper would be required. However, if he has been on it for any longer than one week, the drug should typically be tapered off over several weeks. At 50mg twice daily, I would start by cutting it to 25mg twice daily for 7-10d, then 25mg once daily for 7-10d, then 12.5mg once daily for 7days, then 12.5mg one daily every other day for 7-10d, then discontinue. However, please consult with your primary vet before pursuing this, as he may have options for you including additional drugs that can help prevent some of the side effects you might be seeing. If you want to talk some more in detail about what is going on, let us know and we can set up a consultation for you regarding Hachi's health.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I would speak to your vet about Hachi and tapering him off the steroids. I'm not sure why he is on them or what side effects he is experiencing, and I can't see him in person. Due to that, it is both illegal and unethical for me to tell you how to taper him off it as he may need it if he has a serious medical condition. Giving you that information could really hard Hachi, so give your vet a call now to discuss tapering him off of it, and the vet can let you know how to do it.

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