pred 20 mg

[karmasmom44]

Hi, My dog Karma is on Pred 20 mg started initial dose on 03/14. He is 12 yrs weighs 86 lbs and is a Staffordshire. He is taking them once every other day now. He is experiencing fatigue and muscle weakness. He can't get on the couch,his walks are real short, his hind legs give out occasionally when walking. His fell getting out of the cab of the truck the other day (no harm done) My concern id he will be on this med until June and I am worried about his muscles. The vet assistant said he's OK because he can still get into mischief ( tear up the trash lol) He does pant a lot but only after exercise,he has developed a film over his eyes which wipes away with a wet clean cloth, but comes back and he has the other side effects, urinating a lot, drinking a lot. The vet did not request a return visit. I am really scared for him, am I being paranoid?

[Ghilly]

The best advice I can give you is to find another vet.  A skin rash is usually due to either a staph infection (which is gotten rid of with antibiotics) or a food allergy, which, although it can be extremely difficult to figure out what the allergen is, can be controlled by not feeding foods containing that allergen.  To treat a skin rash with steroids is a bit like amputating a leg because of a splinter in the foot.  Very much overkill in my opinion.  Steroids are not to be trifled with and to put a dog on steroids for something that can be easily handled by other methods would send me running for another vet's opinion.  

Where is the skin rash (other than around his left eye)?  Also, what type of food are you feeding him?

Ghilly

[karmasmom44]

he had a skin rash, itching and it was also around his left eye, He's no longer itchy. Also his pink nose is turning brownish black and is very dry.

Thank you

[Ghilly]

The main question is why is he on steroid therapy in the first place?  It's kind of necessary to know this before I can give an answer.  Thanks!

Ghilly