Harley's platelet count dropped to 30,000. He has cancer but the oncologist felt the fast sudden drop in platelets was Auto Immune Related. I have him back at his regular vet who has had him on 80 mg of Prednisone for about a month now. His platelets have increased to about 77,000 (they should be closer to 200,000) but I am concerned that the side effects are too much for him -- this week his thirst and need for frequent bathroom break have really increased. He has been having bloodwork weekly and is scheduled to go back next Monday. I was just wondering if anyone has ever had their dogs on this high of pred for this length of time. I want to have dosage cut back and probably have him weaned off this completely

My cooper is on prednisone for a rare skin condition that affects the immune system. right now we have him on 40mg a day. He probably should have more but we wanted to see how he does at this dose. he is doing ok now and I am hoping we don't have to increase any more. I feel your concern about the side effects. It is not fun at all!! Cooper has been on for a month now. The panting drives me crazy! He has gain weight and his mood has changed a lot . He is 3years old and has lost a lot of his energy.


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We had Jack on pred for a very long time. He had Lupus. Due to it's effects on him we tapered it down and moved back up according to his health. You had to slowly taper it down and slowly increase dosages - so everything is in constant watch. From one pill go to three quarter pill for awhile then half for awhile then a quarter. If you stop it abruptly it will cause more damage than what you had to start with.

Sending hugs and prayers for your Harley.

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9 & half short years in my life but forever in my heart http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...-my-buddy.html
"He took my heart and ran with it, and I hope he's running still, fast and strong, a piece of my heart bound up with his forever" - Patricia McConnell

Charlie could watch birds for hours and I could watch Charlie for hours too http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...n-morning.html

One suggestion I would take, and your Vet assuredly knows this, is you can't take someone (dog or human) off Prednisone suddenly. It has to be tapered off.

The main side effect's I'm aware of with Prednisone (both with my Mom and past Goldens), is it increases urination and water intake.

And I don't know about dogs, but it is HELL on Diabetics, causing massive swings in Glucose levels. When my Mom was on it she could hit numbers upwards of 600 to 700 all of a sudden.

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Cooper, I'm sorry to hear that you are on Prednisone at such a young age. Yes, the panting dirves me crazy too! Harley actually went from 86 to 80 lbs in the first two weeks he was on the Pred. Because he has cancer I am concerned so I have added cooked turkey to his evening meal and 2 boiled or scrambled eggs to his morning meal. He has lost all muscle mass so I am hoping to build some back with the ectra protein. good luck to you with Cooper.

Claudia, my vet did tell me I could not stop abruptly and I am hoping to take the dosage down probably beginning nexct Monday. He has another appt for bloodwork on Monday so I might as well see what those numbers are -- I've come this far so . . .

Nuttinbut Goldens. That's interesting what you mention about the glucose because I did read that Prednisone can bring on diabetes in a dog. An Awful lot of side effects to this drug.

Velinka, thank you as always for caring. Just out of curiosity, do Canadians get more than 24 hours to their day? I am in awe at how you always take the time to support everyone on this forum -- and with little Charlie. But, that's right -- he is at the age where he actually helps you -- like loading the dishwasher etc!!

I will always find the time to send love and prayers for sweet Harley and his mom.

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9 & half short years in my life but forever in my heart http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...-my-buddy.html
"He took my heart and ran with it, and I hope he's running still, fast and strong, a piece of my heart bound up with his forever" - Patricia McConnell

Charlie could watch birds for hours and I could watch Charlie for hours too http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...n-morning.html

I don't know what cancer you are fighting (blood cancers can often come from blood infections) .... but if he by chance has a history of tick disease, the pred is the opposite direction of where you want to go. Instead, you want to try to increase the platelets using aggressive dosing of doxycycline (5mg/lb twice a day). Sometimes you use the pred until the doxy kicks in and then wean off the pred. Since doxy can sometimes have the same platelet increasing affect even in autoimmune conditions, it's often chosen when it's thought to be the lesser of two evils (pred vs antibiotics), or infection status is unknown. Oh, in some cancers, doxy is also thought to be anti-cancer.

Harley has two lung masses -- 7.5 and 11 cm, one on each lung. An FNA confirmed the cancer but was inconclusive of the type because sample was too small. They ran blood tests and ruled out any tick borne disease, but I know there can be false negatives. His platelets were going up about 10,000/week but this week they dropped by 13,000 so it seems the cancer is winning. he was on doxy while awaiting the results of the bloodwork, and after he completed that for 2 weeks, he went on pred and is also now on azathioprine. His complicated medical history (up until this problem with platelets) is chronicled at http://myharley.tripawds.com/

Andy has been on long term prednisone for lymphoma, here is his thread:

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...-lymphoma.html (Please Pray For Andy - Lymphoma)

It has greatly helped him. I am sure his dad Danny would give you more info.

Good luck and hugs to Harley.

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