prednisolone

So I started my cat on this Sunday for asthma. And he definitely has been fatigued.  He pretty much sleeps all day and kind of fails to eat due to exhaustion. He is awake enough that he does eat (though not that much) and uses the litter box.. but he is very tired. I understand this is a side effect. When should I worry?

Also, the vet mentioned and I did notice... he definitely has increased his urine output.  But so far haven't noticed thirst.

I am home from work tomorrow and can monitor it.  I don't know if it is doing his health a lot of good to be this out of it.

My kitty has been on a steroid for 3 1/2 years, the first year or so he was on prednisolone.  He was switched to dex because of supply issues and we just continued with it.  To be honest I have not noticed lethargy or loss of appetite with it.  Steroids if anything will normally increase appetite.  He is on it for IBD.

Denice said:

 
My kitty has been on a steroid for 3 1/2 years, the first year or so he was on prednisolone.  He was switched to dex because of supply issues and we just continued with it.  To be honest I have not noticed lethargy or loss of appetite with it.  Steroids if anything will normally increase appetite.  He is on it for IBD.

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My cat's in almost exactly this same position.  Jake's 14 and has IBD.  He was on the pred. when I took him in over a year ago, and I understand he has been on it long term.  He eats just fine and definitely has no lethargy.   

Well I talked to the vet and she said it isn't usually something that is seen with steroids.   So since we just started with the steroids (Sunday night) and I really am not sure the dosing... (my cat refuses to eat all the food with the medication in it) she told me to take him off the steroids and see what happens. In the meantime they are ordering a trans-dermal gel for the ear to give to him.  We will still give him the broncio dilator.

The vet also said that if he doesn't have any coughing spells off the steroid, we may not give it to him at all. 

Interestingly.... I stopped this steroid last night at the vet's direction and I got my kitty back. He lit right up... and is more hungry as well.  So far so good on the coughing spells.

Another treatment for cats is a bronchodilator, they make a setup for cats where you give it a pump into a big tube like device that you gently hold over your kitties mouth and nose (there is a mask) for about 30 seconds, so that could be an option.

If the steroid that's being given transdermally in the ear is Budesonide, note that long term it can deform the ear, discuss with your vet.

Thanks for that info on the ear deformity. If the steroid makes my cat a zombie I think I will do what I can not to use it, and certinally not long term... but thanks fro the info. My vet suggested that since the asthma was mild we may be able to get away with only the bronchodilator.  And not all the time.

re -bronchodilator - I have that as well. A small pill that I give him 2 times per day. I think becuase how little there is, he seems to tolerate that better in food.

Mommytobuck said:

 
Thanks for that info on the ear deformity. If the steroid makes my cat a zombie I think I will do what I can not to use it, and certinally not long term... but thanks fro the info. My vet suggested that since the asthma was mild we may be able to get away with only the bronchodilator.  And not all the time.

re -bronchodilator - I have that as well. A small pill that I give him 2 times per day. I think becuase how little there is, he seems to tolerate that better in food.

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You're welcome. :-)