Prednisone for allergies

Hello. My cat is about 5 years old. I noticed she had fur missing and some scabs, on the underside of a back leg. I had been applying something that was supposed to be soothing for cats, which contained tea tree oil, a few times throughout the past year...but then read that for some cats, that is harmful. Imagine my fear, I threw the stuff out immediately.

I tried to wash most of it off of her, and that night she kept licking the area. I took her to the vet and they said it was an allergy and prescribed Prednisone - they gave her an injection, then prescribed 5 mg. (twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then once every other day for 10 days).

I have always tried to avoid injecting or applying anything to my cat that might harm her. I am unsure about prednisone, so to administer it for 20 days bothers me every time. However, seeing that irritation and wanting to do something about it, as it wasn't going away, I needed to do something. Does prednisone for 20 days seem alright? Thank you, I am just very anxious when it comes to my cat.

That is a tapering dose just like that done in humans ... I see nothing wrong with that but did the vet first try regular allergy meds?? Prednisone is a high potency steriod and should be tried after other things havent worked...

What is you baby eating , type of cat litter...??

I am not a vet or vet tech , just a nosey one who loves to research

My only comment would be to ask if you could use prednisolone instead of prednisone...it is per one study I referenced more bioavailable than prednisone, and as I recall, a bit safer as well.

My vet understood completely when I asked to always have prednisolone instead of prednisone used with my cats. I have one gal on a small dose of this permanently, every other day (the only thing her asthma is controlled with).

What is you baby eating , type of cat litter...??

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I have been giving her Science Diet, thinking it was actually good...but then I started reading these forums and would like to find something better. Cat litter, she is using the kind made from dehydrated corn. The Vet didn't offer any other remedies first, went straight to prednisone. I wonder if it would be safe to switch from prednisone to prednisolone...I wish I knew this sooner but will certainly insist in it in the future! Man.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

My only comment would be to ask if you could use prednisolone instead of prednisone...it is per one study I referenced more bioavailable than prednisone, and as I recall, a bit safer as well.

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Thanks, Pat & Alix, for your suggestions! I just know that we have to do our own research because we love our pets and want to make the perfect choices. I will try to do some research on prednisolone. Thanks again.

It is possible what the vet gave you was prednisolone. At our clinic we keep prednisolone for cat sized doses, and prednisone for dog sized doses. Call your vet and talk to them about it.

Wouldn't the bottle be clearly labeled though? I would hope so!

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Wouldn't the bottle be clearly labeled though? I would hope so!

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Yes, it says prednisone, and that's also what he verbally told me.

They would in the orginal bottles in the clinic, but depending on who filled the prescription the bottle could be labeled prednisolone but who filled it could've seen prednisone. Your eyes/mind could automatically see a word and associate it with a word that you know, alot of people have heard of prednisone but less people have heard of prednisolone. I also know that at our clinic we refer to it as just "pred", the dosage is what determines if it is prednisolone or predisone. It is worth calling and discussing with the vet, or changing it out if it is not.

Originally Posted by Petnurse2265

They would in the orginal bottles in the clinic, but depending on who filled the prescription the bottle could be labeled prednisolone but who filled it could've seen prednisone. Your eyes/mind could automatically see a word and associate it with a word that you know, alot of people have heard of prednisone but less people have heard of prednisolone. I also know that at our clinic we refer to it as just "pred", the dosage is what determines if it is prednisolone or predisone. It is worth calling and discussing with the vet, or changing it out if it is not.

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Am I not thinking right, about other allergy meds( a vet told me benadryl)...I am truly wanting to know..

Originally Posted by Petnurse2265

They would in the orginal bottles in the clinic, but depending on who filled the prescription the bottle could be labeled prednisolone but who filled it could've seen prednisone. Your eyes/mind could automatically see a word and associate it with a word that you know, alot of people have heard of prednisone but less people have heard of prednisolone. I also know that at our clinic we refer to it as just "pred", the dosage is what determines if it is prednisolone or predisone. It is worth calling and discussing with the vet, or changing it out if it is not.

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I do understand your point, and I don't mean to sound argumentative, but as an RN (now retired), and someone who filled meds at an animal hospital for a bit, this would horrify me. My training drilled accuracy into my head...I expect the meds listed on my pets (or my personal) medication to be what they are labeled as, and I would expect great, great care be taken so such a mistake did not happen.

I called it "pred" too, but as you say, if at your hospital it is understood that cats get prednisolone and dogs prednisone, I'm sure your bottles go out labeled, and filled, as the vet intended.

Off my med accuracy soapbox now!

Depend on how severe the vet felt the allergy was, but benadryl is an option.

Ahhh I will now relax a bit

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I do understand your point, and I don't mean to sound argumentative, but as an RN (now retired), and someone who filled meds at an animal hospital for a bit, this would horrify me. My training drilled accuracy into my head...I expect the meds listed on my pets (or my personal) medication to be what they are labeled as, and I would expect great, great care be taken so such a mistake did not happen.

I called it "pred" too, but as you say, if at your hospital it is understood that cats get prednisolone and dogs prednisone, I'm sure your bottles go out labeled, and filled, as the vet intended.

Off my med accuracy soapbox now!

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I actually had to call when I just picked up some meds since they were not labelled at all and the vet wasnt avail too tell me what it was ... I no longer go there

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I do understand your point, and I don't mean to sound argumentative, but as an RN (now retired), and someone who filled meds at an animal hospital for a bit, this would horrify me. My training drilled accuracy into my head...I expect the meds listed on my pets (or my personal) medication to be what they are labeled as, and I would expect great, great care be taken so such a mistake did not happen.

I called it "pred" too, but as you say, if at your hospital it is understood that cats get prednisolone and dogs prednisone, I'm sure your bottles go out labeled, and filled, as the vet intended.

Off my med accuracy soapbox now!

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We try to keep it accurate, and 99% of the time do (since there are only 2 vets, 2 techs and a girl who help us out on Saturday's) but there have been time when I have and the girl on Saturday's fill out the label for the bottle (I counted out and bottled up the pills) and have noticed that sometimes the med is not spelled out right even when the bottle was in front of her to copy from. The mind can play tricks with words, and somtimes little things slip through the cracks.

How much benedryl was the doctor suggesting and is it in pill form or liquid form? When I gave my cat the liquid form she spit it out, foaming at the mouth to get it out of her stomach.

The thread you're replying to is from 2005, and the OP isn't active on TCS any longer.

But yes, benadryl is very bitter, and it can be very difficult to administer for that reason.