In diseases of the joints and various inflammatory processes, veterinarians prescribe Prednisolone to cats. This hormonal drug is used in severe cases when conventional analgesics and non-steroidal drugs do not work. For the treatment of animals, a human preparation is used, but in a reduced dosage. "Prednisolone" is a rather difficult drug, which often leads to the development of side effects. What are the features of using Prednisone for cats? And in what cases is this remedy necessary for treatment? We will consider these issues in the article.
Composition
The active component of the drug is prednisone. This substance belongs to corticosteroids. It is an artificial analogue of cortisone - a natural hormone of the adrenal glands.
This medicine stops inflammation. The steroid hormone also reduces autoimmune reactions in which the body's defense system attacks its own healthy tissues.
The drug is produced in the following forms:
- Pills. They contain 5 mg of the hormone.
- Solution for injections. Each ampoule contains 15 mg or 30 mg of a corticosteroid.
- Ointments for application to the skin. Its dosage is 0.5%.
- Eye drops. For the treatment of ophthalmic pathologies, a solution with a dosage of 0.5% is used.
In severe conditions, "Prednisolone" is prescribed to cats in the form of injections. In milder cases, veterinarians use corticosteroid-based tablets, ointments, and drops.
It is important to remember that when applied topically, prednisone is able to enter the bloodstream. This medicine has a systemic effect on the body, even if it is used in the form of ointments or drops for the eyes.
Indications
"Prednisolone" cats are prescribed for the treatment of the following pathologies:
- inflammation of the joints (including autoimmune origin);
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- lupus lesions of the kidneys;
- rheumatism;
- uremic coma;
- inflammation of the skin (dermatitis);
- anemia
- ophthalmic inflammatory pathologies (blepharitis, conjunctivitis);
- insufficiency of the function of the adrenal cortex;
- bronchial asthma.
"Prednisolone" is also used as an immunosuppressant for oncological diseases of the hematopoietic system. It stops the growth of malignant cells. In this case, the medicine is used as part of a comprehensive treatment.
Contraindications
Instructions for use "Prednisolone" for cats prohibits the use of the drug in the following cases:
- During pregnancy and lactation. Corticosteroid hormones can have a negative effect on the fetus. They are also able to penetrate into breast milk.
- With kidney failure. In this case, not only tablets and injections are contraindicated, but also local drugs with prednisone.
- In the presence of allergic reactions. Some animals are hypersensitive to corticosteroid hormones.
- With diabetes. Corticosteroid hormones adversely affect glucose tolerance.
- With a stomach ulcer. Prednisolone can provoke perforation of an ulcer and bleeding from the digestive tract.
- In infectious diseases and during vaccination. If the animal is ill with viral and bacterial pathologies in the acute form, then Prednisolone should not be given to cats. Corticosteroids suppress the function of the immune system, which complicates the course of infectious diseases. Also, hormones can negatively affect the formation of immunity after the introduction of the vaccine.
Unwanted effects
During the use of corticosteroid hormones in animals, often undesirable symptoms occur. Such drugs have a powerful effect on the endocrine and immune system, which sometimes leads to malfunctioning of various organs.
How harmful is Prednisone for cats? The instruction for the drug reports the following undesirable effects that may occur during the course of treatment:
- loss of appetite;
- thirst;
- sharp weight gain;
- a change in the mental state of the animal (apathy or irritability);
- inflammation and the appearance of ulcers in the oral cavity;
- intestinal dysfunction (diarrhea or constipation);
- hair loss;
- oily skin and hairline;
- allergies.
If such symptoms occur, you need to stop taking the drug and consult a veterinarian.
Animals do not always tolerate corticosteroid hormones well. These are rather heavy preparations. They are prescribed only in difficult cases, when lighter and more gentle drugs do not work.
How to apply the medicine
It is very important to observe the prescribed dosage of Prednisolone for cats. Exceeding the permissible amount of corticosteroid hormone can extremely negatively affect the health of the animal. The required dose of medication can only be calculated by a veterinarian based on the body weight of the cat.
In severe conditions, the drug is prescribed in the form of intramuscular injections. In this case, the active component very quickly enters the bloodstream of the animal. Injections of the drug are indicated for uremic coma, severe joint pain, asthma attacks and acute adrenal insufficiency. These conditions require immediate assistance. The drug is used in a dosage of 0.3-0.5 mg per 1 kg of cat weight. In the treatment of cancer and autoimmune pathologies, the dose may increase to 1-1.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight. In this case, no more than 5-7 mg of the hormone can be taken per day.
Prednisolone tablets for cats are used in the treatment of dermatitis, chronic diseases of rheumatic etiology, as well as asthma attacks. The dosage of the drug is the same as when using the injection form. The tablet, if necessary, is divided into several parts, crushed to a powder consistency and mixed into food. You can also put the medicine on the root of the animal’s tongue and massage the neck area a little. This will make swallowing tablets easier.
The drug in the form of an ointment is used in the local treatment of dermatitis and inflammation of the joints. It is necessary to shortly cut the hair on the affected area, and then apply the product on the skin with a thin layer. For safety reasons, you can put on a special protective collar on the cat's neck so that the animal does not lick the ointment.
Eye drops with prednisone are used for blepharitis, conjunctivitis, as well as injuries of the organs of vision. The drug is instilled in each eye 1 drop.
Similar means
In pharmacy chains, you can find the drug "Prednisone". This is the closest structural analogue of Prednisolone, but it can not be used in all cases.
Prednisone is converted in the body to prednisone. But such a metabolism is possible only with a completely healthy liver. If the cat suffers from hepatitis, cirrhosis or cholecystitis, then it is better to use the drug "Prednisolone".
There are a large number of analogues of Prednisone for therapeutic action. These include the following corticosteroid drugs:
- Metipred;
- Medrol;
- "Dexamethasone";
- "Hydrocortisone";
- Betamethasone.
All these drugs contain synthetic analogues of adrenal hormones and have a similar effect. Many of these drugs (for example, Metipred) are much less likely to cause side effects than Prednisolone. However, only a veterinarian can decide on the replacement of a corticosteroid with an analogue.
Reviews
You can find a lot of positive reviews from animal owners about Prednisolone. This drug effectively relieves severe allergic reactions in cats after an insect bite. It quickly relieves joint pain in older animals with rheumatism and arthritis. Cat owners point out that injecting corticosteroids with uremic coma and adrenal insufficiency helped save the pet’s life.
You can also find negative reviews about this medicine. In some animals during treatment, the weight increased sharply and the condition of the coat deteriorated. At the same time, apathy and increased thirst were noted.
Corticosteroids can indeed disrupt the hormonal balance in the body, especially with prolonged use. This can affect fat metabolism and lead to weight gain, as well as to increased work of the sebaceous glands. Therefore, during the course of treatment, it is necessary to ensure that the cat does not overeat. It is also necessary to limit the amount of fats and carbohydrates in the diet of the animal. Usually, after the end of the course of treatment, the weight returns to normal, and the condition of the coat is quickly restored.