My dog has been taking 5mg prednicare for seasonal allergies for 6-8 weeks. Despite being 35kg, he has experienced occasional vomiting, and acid reflux, and appears sick. Dr. Google says he has stomach cancer, but he’s three years old and a bully breed, so he’s not predisposed to gastric tumors. Has anyone else experienced a similar problem? He’s scheduled for a scan next week, but I’m afraid.
Whether for humans or dogs, “Dr. Google” is a highly unreliable source of information.
In my (non-medically trained) opinion, steroidal medications shouldn’t be given long-term because the risk of side effects and dependency is too high. It’s impossible to say from here whether your dog’s symptoms are from the steroids, but steroidal medication shouldn’t be stopped suddenly if used for more than a couple of weeks.
I recommend getting your dog to a vet ASAP. Personally, I would also seek a second opinion from a different vet regarding the use of steroids. There are many other treatments for seasonal allergies that could be better for your dog’s overall health.
I’ve reduced the dose and am gradually weaning him off because I had my suspicions a few weeks ago. I’ve contacted the vet and we’re scheduled for an ultrasound next week to rule out any nasties, but I don’t want to subject him to unnecessary testing; he still has an appetite and is himself; it’s just the random vomiting every couple of days and the reflux! I tried a few herbal cures for his allergies, but they were serious.
What is your feeding routine, and when does he vomit?
He normally vomits early in the morning, sometimes bile, sometimes a tiny bit of food, or at night. He has been having reflux nonstop lately, and I feed him little meals four times a day, the last being at 9 p.m., with a pinch of ginger to help with the nausea.
I find it interesting that your doctor would prescribe prednisone for allergies over time. It is certainly appropriate in the short term to bring everything under control. I, too, would be skeptical of anything you find online; the internet is a tremendous source of knowledge, but it can also be a source of misinformation. If your veterinarian is unsure about a diagnosis or treatment plan, ask them if it is acceptable to consult with a specialist. Please let us know what the ultrasound results show in terms of a probable diagnosis.
It was principally for short-term use but lowered the dosage and used for longer as per advice for his persistent allergy. It’s otisis, which is a severe allergy within the ears, however even decreasing the dosage long-term use would have side effects Surely, with this type of medication, the vet believes the dose is too low, yet he’s been taking it for 8 weeks at 5mg per day! I assume the ultrasound is looking for tumors or ulcers as a result of the symptoms! His blood testing, physical checkup, and urine analysis were all normal, so we’re praying it’s not cancer. Google just made me fear. He’s not the average age or breed for gastric cancers. This doesn’t imply it’s impossible, but it’s unlikely.
Hang in there, lets hope for the best.
I was wondering if the vomiting was bilious from a mostly empty stomach. The early morning schedule supports that hypothesis, however your 9 PM feeding is what I would have recommended to keep the tummy calm throughout the night. Does he sleep in a crate? If not, consider feeding him his late-night food in a Kong Wobbler to halt his munching.