prednisone

[babscats]

I have some prednisone left over from a spider bite last week at the emergency room. I need to know if I can cut them up for 2 of my 9 cats that have visited my home and decided to  stay. please do not say go to a vet since I am 69 and on Medicare and  Medicaid. this is a town with no low cost clinics. I feel so bad for them . I cannot stand it. I have tried everything in my medicine cabinet including antifungal powder,spray and liquid. Also tried topical a .today  one has even had the rash spread to his privates.  I know they are so miserable  .Please tell me what  else I can try, I do have other antibiotics in the house.. Help, please

[CML2014]

Hi Babs,

It is very understandable that you want to help your cats. I wishmore people cared like you do. '

Now I am going to have to agree that giving human meds to an animal is a dangerous thing to do.
A) You do not know what the diagnoses is so cannot determine the right med
B) Prednisone is a very wicked medication. I fought tooth and nail NOT to put my cat on it. Even if you could find a dosage , one or two doses will do nothing. It is an anti-inflammatory and  needs "A full Course" of treatment in order to be effective.

Your left over pills will not help...but     you might want to try 1/4 of a 10 mg antihistamine like Claritin . This could stop itching, but good luck getting those kits to take it without putting up quite a fight.
Just do not do antibiotics--sounds like it could be an allergy , maybe from fleas--do you think that might be possible?

Do they have emergency clinics/ or Teaching Vet schools near you--they can be pretty understanding when one has no budget for this . Call around, maybe even an animal rescue might help you. Let your fingers do the walking , you know???

Let us know what you find out--but do not do the at home meds --you could do more harm than good, and no one wants that, right?

CML

[opus88]

How can you ask IF prednisone is safe for a cat than go on to state you can give advice on dosages.....please don't ever give dosage advice on something you know nothing about, uninformed advice can seriously harm or kill an animal

[ccg2]

If prednisone is safe for cats...I can help you with mg/kg dosing. I do understand about not being able to afford a vet on a fixed income. My experience is Vet  offices won't even consider giving you basic over the counter information or basic emergency information....which is sad for the animals.

[zodiacqueen]

You can't just randomly put different medicines from your medicine cabinet on the cats.  Cats will lick off whatever is put on them.  It's probably poisonous to them.  And, do not give them prednisone that was prescribed for you.  You have no idea how to dose a cat according to body weight.

Really, your best bet is a rescue group.  Do some research online.  I'm sure there's something out there that's a reasonable distance from you.

[opus88]

Prednisone is NOT an antibiotic, you can't just go giving any medication without even knowing what you are treating....prednisone use in cats often leads to diabetes.
Please describe what's wrong and I will try and help with some suggestions, I know yr only trying to help them but inappropriate use of meds can be fatal...please dont