Possible giving corticosteroids to dogs in order to help them in various aspects associated with their health, such as joint pain and allergies, etc. In general, corticosteroids administered in dogs are indicated in the short term, since their prolonged use could generate serious side effects.
There are multiple diseases that can be treated through corticosteroids; However, just as they have many benefits, they can cause a variety of side effects, so they must be administered with caution.
What are corticosteroids and when are they indicated for dogs?
The corticosteroid is a chemical compound, which well can be natural or synthetic, which acts the same as the hormones produced by the adrenal gland, whose main function is to offer an anti-inflammatory effect.
It consists of the most powerful medicine used by traditional veterinarians, due to the fact that is a powerful and fast palliative when you want to combat autoimmune diseases, allergies and any kind of inflammation that dogs may present.
Cortisone is generally prescribed as a treatment for dogs when they have any of the following conditions:
- Ailments in the muscles.
- Kidney and / or liver diseases.
- Cancer (mast cell tumors and / or lymphoma).
- Inflammation of the spinal cord or brain.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Contact allergies.
- Swelling in the tendons
- Addison's disease.
- Inflammation in the lungs, intestinal tract, sinuses, stomach, or bronchial tubes.
- Acute uveitis.
- Allergic reactions caused by food or inhalants.
How do corticosteroids work in dogs?
Cortisone, as with any medicine, works as soon as you take it. In this case, what it does is bind to a cell receptor and alter it in such a way as to try to balance the body and return it to "normal values."
Side effects in dogs caused by cortisone
Before indicating any type of medication, veterinarians have to review the percentage that exists between benefit and riskTherefore, a good professional will only prescribe the administration of cortisone only when there are more benefits than risks.
However, every dog owner has to inform himself about the side effects that corticosteroids can cause on their dogs, so we'll be talking about them below.
When administered in small doses and in short-term treatments, corticosteroids could cause:
- Increased appetite and thirst.
- Weight gain.
- Changes in behavior (sleep disorders, anxiety, among others).
- Fluid retention and inflammation in different parts of the body.
- Irregularities in heart rhythm and tachycardia.
- Slower healing process.
- Humor changes.
Serious side effects caused by the administration of corticosteroids in dogs
Several chronic side effects generated by the prolonged administration of corticosteroids in dogss, causing damage that could affect the dog throughout its life and would involve the use of some permanent treatment.
These side effects include:
- Decrease in the production and excretion of gastric mucus, causing the expulsion of the main protective layer of the stomach walls and increasing the secretion of hydrochloric acid, which stimulates the development of ulcers and gastritis.
- Difficulties related to the fixation of calcium, causing them to have bones more exposed to developing degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis or dysplasia, etc., developing a greater propensity to suffer trauma or fractures caused by the wear and tear of bone mass.
- Development of various metabolic disorders, such as, for example, imbalance in hormone production, as well as in the level of minerals and vitamins and interruptions in the metabolization of carbohydrates consumed through the diet, which could cause diabetes or hyperglycemia.
- Appearance of generalized edema due to the excessive accumulation of fluids within the abdominal cavity.
- Increase in suffering a myocardial infarction due to the wear suffered by the cardiac structures.
- The pressure of the eyeball is increased, which allows the appearance of glaucoma and cataracts.
- Arterial hypertension.
More side effects you should know
Will influence metabolism
In fact, you are going to focus on carbohydrate metabolism. What are you doing? Reduce glucose useIn other words, the tissues are not going to use it, but it will continue in the blood, so it can lead to a high rise in blood glucose (harmful if the animal has diabetes or is predisposed to suffer from it).
It will also make your dog fatter. As it affects the metabolism, it will also cause the body to accumulate. Fortunately, once you stop treatment, your weight should return to normal.
The immune system is altered
And with altered, we also tell you that you will be more prone to catching diseases, viruses, parasites ... The reason is simple: your system does not work well to defend itself against viruses and bacteria. That is why it is important to use them only for the shortest possible time to avoid greater evils.
Stomach problems
The stomach secretes a substance called "gastric mucus" that helps protect and increase the production of hydrochloric acid. But, corticosteroids in dogs, can lead to less gastric mucus, which damages the digestive system of the animal and may have significant gastric problems.
Loss of calcium
The use of corticosteroids in dogs does not mean that it will attack the calcium values of the dog, but it will influence, and greatly, the absorption of calcium. What does this mean? That no matter how much food you give it, You will not be able to absorb all the calcium from that food and it may affect your values in the long run.
Sodium problems
Sodium is one of the elements that are related to fluid retention. Everyone, both humans and dogs, have sodium in their body. But this is usually in "normal" values, without having a negative impact on day to day.
Now, when taking corticosteroids, sodium absorption is higher than normal, causing more fluids to be retained, and therefore swell. This influences the proper functioning of the kidneys. Hence, the use of cortisone in dogs must be very careful to avoid greater evils.
It is the most powerful anti-inflammatory ... but dangerous
And it's dangerous because is capable of inhibiting inflammatory processes. For example, the proliferation of cells, or even the dilation of blood vessels. In other words, it will affect the circulatory system. And sometimes it's not for the better.
When the side effects turn out to be chronic, the vet will indicate a change in treatment.
Alternatives to corticosteroids in dogs
Not all veterinarians, and not all dog owners, want to treat their pets with corticosteroids. As with humans, this medication cannot be prolonged due to the consequences it has. Therefore, they look for alternatives to cortisone, with the aim of treating the ailment in the same way as if it were with corticosteroids. Some experts use them even before that medication in an attempt not to have to prescribe it.
Of course, it all depends on the type of problem the dog has, since corticosteroids can be administered through an ointment on the skin (which is usually stopped in a few days), or an oral treatment (which can be more persistent and, therefore, require the use of alternatives).
Actually, for dogs there are many alternatives to corticosteroids, which do not generate as many negative consequences in their body nor do they interfere with other medications that your pet may need. However, it will all depend on the type of ailment you have to be able to prescribe it, since sometimes they take longer to take effect and can be counterproductive for them.
In case you want to try these alternatives, see a holistic expert, who are the veterinarians more focused on natural treatments and less dangerous alternatives to restore the health of pets.
The benefits of using alternatives to corticosteroids
Although we cannot openly recommend alternatives to corticosteroids because they must be personalized for each dog's ailment, we can talk to you about the benefits of using them instead of corticosteroids.
Do not use corticosteroids
Perhaps the most beneficial thing for your pet is that you are not going to use that medication. As we have already seen, it has many side effects that can affect other organs and cause health problems beyond the one you are treating.
In addition, some experts comment that the dog with a corticosteroid treatment can change your behavior, becoming more aggressive even.
If to this we add the fact that corticosteroids taken for a long time are harmful, we will be avoiding future problems.
They do not interfere with allergy tests
When your dog is treated with corticosteroids, the tests they do are likely to be inconclusive in many respects. For example, in the case of allergy. Cast It hurts that veterinarians can continue studying your case to find a proper diagnosis.
They do not interfere with vaccines
Yes, a dog with corticosteroids can have problems with vaccines. In fact, in puppies they try to avoid at all costs for that very reason, since produces an alteration in the immune system.
Taken in the short term, you shouldn't have a problem, but it's always better to turn to the alternatives.
Does not affect other medications
One of the problems with corticosteroids is that they can affect other pills that your dog can take, as well as problems such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, etc.
They can be used in long-term treatments
Despite what you may think, many of the alternatives to corticosteroids in dogs can go well and the results appear in a matter of days. It does not have to take longer than the effects of the corticosteroids.
In addition, one of the great advantages of these treatments is that they can be long-term, without fearing the consequences that may occur.