My dog gained weight on Prednisone. How can I safely exercise her?

Question

My dog has allergies and has been put on Prednisone long- term. We had tried prescription allergy pills but they did not work very well. I also tried special diets with little success. She is doing better on steroids but has gained a lot of weight. How can I increase her exercise without harming her? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 6 years and 11 months old | 75 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

For exercise, I recommend going on a walk and let Gracie set the pace. Start short and work up to longer walks. I would also discuss her allergies with the vet and work on treating the specific allergy. Allergy testing and allergy injections or sublingual drops may be what she needs. Long-term steroids are not recommended due to the effects on the immune system, liver, skin (causes thinning and can lead to infection), predisposition to diabetes and Cushing's disease, etc.

My dog gained weight on Prednisone. How can I safely exercise her?

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