Prednisone long term?

[sierrasusieq]

I have a cat who is a dwarf. He has all kinds of skelatel problems. His joints are all wrong. He is 2 years old so full grown. He is a happy cat but he must have pain a lot because he growls when he gets up and if you pick him up wrong he growls. I also massage him a lot and sometimes he growls when I hit certain areas. He gets around fine but can not jump up or down. He also looks like a little old man when he walks.
My vet has suggested giving him prednisone so he has less pain. Very small amounts. He said to give him half of a 5 mg. pill to start and then 1/4 of a pill every other day and see how he acts on it. He is saying to keep him on it long term with the 1/4 of a 5 mg every other day if it looks like it agrees with him and makes him feal better.

Is this a good idea or will it cause any long term health problems?? My vet says it wont at such a small dose.

What do you think . Would realy like a second opinion.

Should I just give him small bit of aspirin at times ?

He was in pain more last month when we had very cold temperatures I noticed.

Thanks for any input.

[Savas]

Sorry, all vet forums with actual vets (and doctors) require payment by credit card to ask a question. It's irritating, but I suppose i see the point. A free service would probably get inundated. I think I know of one that isn't to expense ($5 a question) but don't know if I sill have the link.

Technically though, what you need is very specific info. I think you'd have to go into the database yourself and find any research projects done on the long term effects of prednisone on felines. The problem is you need to know something about statistics and protocols to interpret the study properly. The study may very well exist, but not have been published.

The other problem is the database is humongous and not very well designed. Trying to find info can be like attempting to coax an elephant into a volkswagen. Frustrating and leading to dubious results. :)

[sierrasusieq]

I like you answer Savas. Yes, he does have malformed joints with some fusing. I have his full body xrays. The vet said it looked like a child had taken all his bones and thrown them together.
So, he started on the tiny bit of Pred a few days ago and I must say he seems a little spunkier.

Do vets ever come on this forum? I was hoping to hear another vets opinion also.

[Savas]

I see why your vet suggested this. There's probably malformation of the joints and possible fusing. It would lead to irritation and inflammation.

I'm sorry, I just don't know. I know that dwarfism in humans can lead to a menagerie of biological differences and sensitivities (there's like 100 different types of dwarfism too!) that make use of medication a tricky prospect. I've actually never ran into a dwarf cat, so don't know much about it. I do know that you're facing a lesser of two evils situation, the question is which one?

I'd say make the decision that seems to make you both happy. Kitty lives in the "now", and won't appreciate pain now for health later. Considering the problems that dwarfism can bring up in terms of aging and health issues, I would personally go with the treatment and increase present quality of life. I hope i'm not wrong on that.

[belita]

Hi
I'm on prednisone. 5 mg is a small dose for a human but for a tiny cat it would be much different.
Prednisone has helped many people  but it does have side effects, espicially long term use. It causes mood changes, depression, erritability, anxiety. Humans need to take Calcium and vitamin D daily because it affects the bones. Some of the other side effects:, increased appetite, weight gain, water retension, stomach problems, muscle atrophy, difficulty sleeping. Your immune system becomes weak so it is easy to catch viruses.
Find out about calcium and vitamin D supplements for the cat. I've taken prednisone for one year and I now use a walker because of muscle atrophy caused by the prednisone, I have stomach problems, edema in my legs ( very painful), moon face (a round puffy face), weight gain, bladder problems.  
If the prednisone is only for pain, I would use something else. I would only use prednisone if it meant life or death with no other possible medication that could help the problem.
I would get a second opinion from another vet without mentioning what this vet said.
If you decide to use prednisone, be patient with your cat because they well feel different on prednisone (mood swings),  and very hungry, and trouble sleeping.
I would also do some research regarding similar conditions in humans and what they take for pain. Maybe there is another drug other that prednisone that is used for similar conditions? I would try to find another way if possible.
Take care and in the meaintime give kitty lots of love, and a warm soft place to sleep when in pain.

Bev