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Dog lethargic, drinking, urinating on prednisolone. Can I skip dose?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | unneutered | 6 months and 19 days old | 53 lbs

My golden retriever who used to be very active is completely lethargic right now, and from yesterday he's been drinking a lot of water and urinating more frequently, I looked up online and found out that these are the side effects of prednisolone, which was prescribed to him on 07/20 which was 40mg twice a day. I wanted to know whether I could skip this dose to avoid these side effects from worsening?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on July 22nd, 2017

You are correct that these are very common side effects of prednisolone. The good news is, they are normally not dangerous to the dog - just a bit annoying to deal with. Without knowing why Snitch was prescribed this medication, I can't tell you whether or not it would be safe to skip a dose - so I would not recommend making any changes to his prescribed medication schedule until you speak to his regular veterinarian. I would suggest calling his veterinarian to discuss your concerns and ask about possibly modifying his dose when you are able to - until then, it would be best to continue the medication as prescribed.

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Sorry this is happening to Snitch. The answer to your question is NO! Prednisolone is a steroid that needs to be given exactly as prescribed. You will just need to deal with the side effects for now. Whatever you do, DO NOT restrict his water intake. That is not a good idea. Take him out more frequently to urinate to avoid accidents in the house. I suggest you call your vet as soon as they open next and talk to them about the side effects and possibly adjusting the dosage. I hope this helps. Best wishes.

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