prednisone ??s

My 20 lb. pug   8 1/2 yrs old female was just put on antibiotic Feb. 4 2011 and on the 5th put on prednisone 10 mg.   She gets the prednisone 2 times a day for 1 wk then as directed.    Can just a few days on the pred cause the eyes to be larger and nose to be lil runny.   When she had the blood test, red blood cells were clumping together and minutes later they were not.  Vet is not sure if its an infection, toxin exposure or cancer.    Her immune system is attacking her platelets.   Liver & kidney are fine, its not tick related, body is trying to reproduce red cells per vet.   She has also been on levothyroxine for hypothyroidism for about 2 yrs now.    I hope to god its not cancer  and it terrifies me that she will have other problems by being on prednisone, but vet says its 50 50 chance.   Any info would be helpful to me.   thank you

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

It sounds as if your dog has thrombocytopenia, which can be caused by an autoimmune problem, infectious causes, toxins, cancer, and idiopathic (cause cannot be found).  It sounds as if your vet is doing a good job in trying to find the cause and with appropriate treatment.  

The prednisone would not cause the eyes to get bigger.  They may appear larger, but are not actually bigger.  The runny nose should also not be related and may just be coincidental.  Prednisone in gradually decreasing doses should have no long lasting effect.  In the short term it can cause excessive drinking, eating and urinating most commonly.  There are many other side-effects which are uncommon, such as behavior changes.  If continued long term it may cause muscle atrophy which is usually reversible once the prednisone is discontinued, but it will take time.

The Chinese Herbal Formula: "Gui Pi Tang" is an effective  adjunctive therapy for thrombocytopenia.  Gui Pi Tang is available online from a variety of Herbal Formula distributors and Herbal companies.  Do a google search.  The dose is: 1/4  of a human adult dose twice daily for a human product.