Side effects from Steroid shot

kimdorothi

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My vet once gave 1 of my cats a steroid shot. She was completely changed. She looked like a zombie just laying around all the time. She didn't want to play or do anything but eat and sleep. She would just stare at nothing. I would say that being lethargic is one of the side effects even though my vet said it wasn't. Don't know about the twitching though but my cat really looked drugged and I felt so bad for doing that to her. NEVER again!

side effects of steroids
 

angels mommy

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My cat Angel used to get pimples on his chin. I read that the toxins released from plastic will cause this. I replaced his bowl with a ceramic one & he hasn't had the problem sense! I would try that before anything else. In the meantime, just put a lot of peroxide on a cotton round, & gently clean his chin every day to help clear it up.

It's the safest thing you can use. If it's really bad, after the peroxide, you can use a little neosporin, just be sure not to get it close to his mouth where he can lick it.

"Good luck, & I hope this was helpful!"  :)
 

stephanietx

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In humans, steroids often cause depression and moody or grumpy so I see no reason why a kitty wouldn't be susceptible to these side effects as well.  You just have to let the meds run their course and get out of your system after you've taken them, so I'm sure it's the same for a kitty.  I hope your kitty is back to normal soon!
 

angels mommy

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In regards to  the steroid shots, there may be other things your Vet can try. I had to take Angel in today because he had a flea allergy dermatitis break out all down his spine. (Even though he is on the Advantage multi & has never had this before).  The Vet gave him some Prednisolone (5mg) & some Simplicef (100mg)  to get some relief. He has had this before when he was chewing spots on his tummy, and it was helpful.  After reading the awful reviews from everyone, I was so glad that he didn't have to get a steroid shot!!  I hope this info. is helpful. Take care!
 

bunnysmycat

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My manx, Bunny, had two of these shots for skin allergies before through trial and error I figured out that she is allergic to something in the canned foods that are chunky.  She's fine if she eats the pate style.  You might try changing her diet.  Cats can also take some allergy medications, check petmeds.com  I used their version of chlor-trimeton.  Bunny is small, about 6 lbs. I gave her 1/2 pill twice a day in her food without any issues.  

When she got those shots, she acted just a bit less lively than usual. I imagine, like people, different cats have different reactions.
 

emilymaywilcha

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I had a friend who told me this happened to his dog years ago and ever since he refused to let his vet give any dog steroids again.

Fortunately Wilbur did not have this problem, but high doses made him sneeze.
 

purrguy

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I'am going through the same things my little girl become lethargic after the steroid shoot and also  she received comfortis pill I'am worry a little because she is not herself since hidding and if I' try to cheer her up she is crying  and just wanna sleep this is very new to me because she was always full of energy running around and come to me for attention all the time and now like she is not even exist I' really want her beck but the allergy from fleas even worse she is scracthing and tear her skin around her neck so I' don't have a choice she need that shoot I' would wait a little they will come around my recommendation to you start slow anything you do because they might be irritated by a lot of thing right now and the last thing you wanna do is alienate your cat I' believe nature will take care of all the issues we need to remind ourselves the cat don't know what is wrong and they respond the best way they could and we have to have patience and common judgment to do the best we could guide them back to our arms  good luck to you I'am sure your cat is going to be fine
 

pam j

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My 16-year-old cat had her first steroid shot on 12/31/14, Dexamethasone.  She was having uti issues, but none of the tests could find anything wrong with her.  They were beginning to suspect cancer and she lost 1 1/2 pounds.  The steroid shot completely knocked her out, caused her to vomit, made her dizzy, and she was stumbling around.  She died five days later.
 

samus

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Just wanted to share a happy steroid shot story. My 12-year old cat with IBD and the beginning stages of CRF got a dexamethasone injection (Hexadreson, 0.3 mL, 4.8 kg cat) two days ago. She was barely eating for almost a month and didn't have energy to move much. Since the shot she's been eating the normal amount of calories for her size (instead of slightly more than half), her mood is great, she's affectionate and playful, and her poop is solid. And now that she's eating I can finally switch her off her old food that was irritating her bowels but was the only way she was getting enough calories to survive and the healing process can finally start.
 

richard head

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my cat had a needle yesterday for steroids as she has a saw on her rear leg and kept scratching and licking it. after this needle, 2hours say, she has attacked me 3 times and I needed stitches in my head last night because of one attack, it seems like she does not know her surroundings but she is coming round a little and I will not give up on her and I don't want the trauma of the vet ride in the car again. please please help me I love her so much.
 

stephanietx

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You should call the vet and let them know that's she's reacting to the shot. 
 

richard head

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i wrote and said on thread  30 I think, about the after affects of a steroid needle. its 2 days later and my sweet is coming round to her little ways again, I know its going to be a long prose's to get her back to how she was, but during this time of sadness I have learnt so much more about my cats than I realised I would ever know,

 tilly has had these shots before without any of this effect and life has carried on very good between Harvey and tilly. Harvey my male cat who loves cuddles and tilly who gives you her head to kiss.

 but after reading some of the threads on this site all night and I mean up all night with worry I have found the reason why I think this happened.

  when I took tilly into the vet office for her needle I noticed that the bench was still wet from  the previous pet that had been in, and the vet,  had  rubbed over the table with a damp cloth  and it was still drying. I put tilly on the bench while getting examined and she took it in her stride and was given the needle. I talked to the vet for a while so I would get over the shock of my little baby having this thing pushed in her neck. I then  put her back in her carrier box and took her home. I made sure she was comfortable then went to my local shop and bought her, her favourite food, king prawns, and Harvey some sliced beef. when I got back this is when all hell had let loose and I was the sauce of Tilly,s retaliation. and the rest is in thread 30.

    why did this happen?, for a few reasons really. one I never got the sent of tilly on some old material or socks before I went and two, the vets table was still carrying the smell of the other cat before and had not been cleaned well enough.

  this all come down to my own fault, so as soon as I took tilly in my house, Harvey smelt the strange smells on tilly and while I was out attacked her to the point were she was scared for her poor little life.

  it goes to show that no matter how much you love these animals there is always something that you do not know about them.

   I am 6ft 3in and 20stone of brawn and I have never ever cried so much in my life when I saw her hurting and there was nothing I could do. my now ex wife gave me a ultimatum one day and said its me or the cats, now I worshiped the ground my wife walked on so I packed my bags and left with the cats under my arm and I now have a ex wife, that's how much I love these cats. and I will do till the end of time and in time I hope that she will forgive me for being such a fool,,,,, that's my cat tilly who im talking about.   
 

izzle22

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Two weeks ago I brought my one year old female Zola to my vet for a common uti. My vet gave her an injection she said had an antibiotic as well as a steroid for the inflammation. Two days later Zola was urinating normal again although was not acting herself, she was eating and drinking normally but hardly playing at all. Today two weeks later no change, still not playing and sleeps way more than normal. This past Saturday we took her back to the vet because I was concerned. The vet checked her temp which was normal and also checked her glucose levels which were normal as well. Everything checked out and I was informed she had "the steroid blas" and it could last a month. This has really concerned me not seeing my Zola her normal crazy self and I want her back. Reading some of the posts in this thread have helped calm my nerves but I am still concerned.
 

izzle22

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I would also like to know if anyone has experienced muscle cramps as a side effect. In the last week Zola would start limping on her left hind leg to the point of falling down. I will pick her up and rub her leg then put her down and she's fine again. This has happened about 6 or 7 times.
 

misskittysmom

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Any updates on your poor little cat?  For how long did her lethargy last if you don't mind my asking.  Facing same situation.  Depo-Medrol injection given eight days ago.  Cat is lethagic, no longer playing, a bit of zombie other than when she is fed. Stays in crouching position or sleeps most of the day/evening.  Just not herself.  Vet consult in four three days but am looking for others who have experienced this first hand. Thanks for any help.
 

izzle22

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I'm not sure if Zola's lethargy was from her steroid shot or the fact that she had double luxating patellas. She had both knees operated on a little over two weeks ago and is now in recovery mode. Lethargy is gone for the most part except now dealing with her recovery and her mood swings with this. I can't say if the steroid shot was the issue or the underlying issue with her knees. I wish you luck with your kitty and hope she is back to herself soon!
 

auburnflame

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My two cats are litter mates and have loved playing together and cuddling together all of their lives (they are 4 years old). Friday I had to take the male to the vet for a bad cough. This was the first time he has gone to the vet without her. He had asthma and he received a steroid shot and dreadlocks were shaved off from him. He is doing fine. However, his sister won't have anything to do with him. She hisses (loudly) whenever he comes near her. She has attacked him at least once. She attacked me when I tried to carry her over him. I can't figure out if it is the vet smell (which should be gone by now as it is Sunday), or if the steroid changed his smell, or if she just doesn't like the new haircut. :) Has anyone had any experience like this?
 

MayBinky

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Any updates on your poor little cat? For how long did her lethargy last if you don't mind my asking. Facing same situation. Depo-Medrol injection given eight days ago. Cat is lethagic, no longer playing, a bit of zombie other than when she is fed. Stays in crouching position or sleeps most of the day/evening. Just not herself. Vet consult in four three days but am looking for others who have experienced this first hand. Thanks for any help.
I know this is an old thread, but if you or anyone could tell me if your cat recovered from a steroid shot? My cat had his first steroid shot for an allergic rash, he is 12 years old and healthy, and he is also acting like he got a lobotomy. He wont play anymore, walks very slow around house and then plops on the floor from exhaustion. Doesn't jump up anywhere, doesn't cuddle with me and only wakes for food which he eats all of it in one sitting AND he is not pooping. It has been six days since he got the shot and I did take him back to the vet and she acted like he was fine. Only took his temperature and felt around his body. She's not helping. Did anyone's cat return to normal after the shot ran its course? The steroid he got is called Triamcinolone. Thanks.
 

MayBinky

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I know this is an old thread, but if you or anyone could tell me if your cat recovered from a steroid shot? My cat had his first steroid shot for an allergic rash, he is 12 years old and healthy, and he is also acting like he got a lobotomy. He wont play anymore, walks very slow around house and then plops on the floor from exhaustion. Doesn't jump up anywhere, doesn't cuddle with me and only wakes for food which he eats all of it in one sitting AND he is not pooping. It has been six days since he got the shot and I did take him back to the vet and she acted like he was fine. Only took his temperature and felt around his body. She's not helping. Did anyone's cat return to normal after the shot ran its course? The steroid he got is called Triamcinolone. Thanks.
 
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