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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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Long-Term
Steroid Use
While most drugs have some adverse effects, steroids have
more than their fair share of problems. Warning:
Heavy Science
Content, but required reading for anyone who is considering
putting their pet on long-term steroids.
To quote Dr. Keith Hnilica, DVM, MS, DACVD, a dermatology expert
from the University of Tennessee, "Steroids are like cigarettes:
one cigarette will not kill you; social smoking is probably OK,
but at some point smoking becomes detrimental. One in five
smokers get lung cancer; nicotine has some benefits - a
sensation of well-being, memory improvement, energy booster.
Likewise steroids have benefits but with chronic use and more
importantly, repetitive use - at some point problems develop."
The most common side effects we see with steroid use are
increased thirst, increased urination, and increased appetite.
Almost all patients experience these side effects, so plan on
them. In particular, housebreaking can be compromised in
some individuals because of the increased urination. You
may need to make plans to prevent accidents.
The
anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions of steroids,
though desired for their therapeutic effects, may facilitate the
establishment or spread of other infectious or parasitic
diseases. As a result, dogs treated with steroids have a
tendency to develop secondary bacterial infections of the skin,
urinary tract or respiratory tract. Urinary tract
infections have been documented in 18 to 39% of dogs who are
treated with 0.28 to 0.8 mg/kg of steroids for more than 6
months.
The most serious side effects of steroids are related to
prolonged use of large doses which may suppress the pituitary
and adrenal glands. The effects of chronic elevations in
steroid levels are readily seen with naturally
occurring Cushing's Disease. Unfortunately those same
problems can be created by overuse of steroids by the
veterinarian and / or owner, even when administered on an
alternate-day basis. These high levels of steroids can
result in hyperglycemia, fat redistribution, decreased skin
elasticity, atrophy of the skin, poor wound healing, a pendulous
abdomen secondary to a redistribution of body fat, poor quality
coarse hair, baldness (e.g. hair loss from breakage and failure
to regrow), comedones (e.g. follicular plugs or blackheads), a
variety of bacterial infections (especially of the bladder and
skin) and even calcinosis cutis (e.g. mineral deposits in the
skin). Localized dermal and adnexal atrophy following
subcutaneous and occasional intramuscular steroid injections
have also been reported. If the steroid used also has
mineralocorticoid effects then polyuria (e.g. production of an
increased amount of urine) and polydipsia (e.g. drinking an
excessive amount) may also be present. Secondary adrenocortical
insufficiency is a side effect that can be seen after withdrawal
of the steroid therapy.
The list goes on (and on and on and on...)
- Muscle wasting and weakness.
- Diabetes can be precipitated or aggravated.
- Increase in circulating blood fat (triglycerides).
- Salt retention: leg swelling, raised blood pressure,
weight increase and heart failure.
- Shakiness and tremor.
- Psychological effects including insomnia, mood changes,
increased energy, excitement, delirium or depression.
- Stomach and intestinal ulcers and ulceration
This is not to say that steroids can't be used.
They can. However, it is clear that steroids have more
than their share of adverse side-effects, some of which can
be very serious, and with long-term steroid use we are quite
likely to see adverse effects. It becomes a matter of
weighing the adverse effects of using the drug against the
adverse effects of not using the drug. In many cases
there are better choices than steroids.
Click on the link to return to
Allergies in Dogs
Click on the link to return to the
Special
Library
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