Why is my dog bloated with a pot belly and groaning on prednisone?

Question

My dog is taking prednisone- he has developed a bloated, pot belly and is groaning if he lies down or it is touched. Please help! Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 7 years and 7 months old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, these are common side effects of prednisone - it often causes bloating, weight gain with a pot-bellied appearance, and in many cases seems to be make dogs more irritable. It may also cause increased thirst, urination, and appetite. I'm not sure what medical condition your dog has that the prednisone is treating, but I would recommend talking with your vet about your concerns - in many cases, there are altnerative medications such as Atopica or Apoquel for allergy problems, or azathioprine for immune-mediated illnesses, that can be just as effective and generally cause fewer side effects. It may be possible to reduce your dog's dose of prednisone or even taper off of it altogether if a different medication is used.

Why is my dog bloated with a pot belly and groaning on prednisone?

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