Methylprednisolone for dogs: Uses, dosages, and safety

In this article:

• What is methylprednisolone used for in dogs?
• Is methylprednisolone safe for dogs?
• Methylprednisolone dosage for dogs
• Methylprednisolone alternatives for dogs
• Summary

In this article

• What is methylprednisolone used for in dogs?
• Is methylprednisolone safe for dogs?
• Methylprednisolone dosage for dogs
• Methylprednisolone alternatives for dogs
• Summary

Methylprednisolone is a powerful prescription corticosteroid used to treat a wide spectrum of problems in dogs and cats including inflammation, autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, skin conditions, inflammatory conditions, and hormone disorders. Veterinarians usually prescribe oral methylprednisolone for use in dogs, but they can also give the dog injections of Depo-Medrol methylprednisolone acetate or Solu-Medrol (methylprednisolone sodium succinate) for certain conditions or emergency treatment.

RELATED: Save up to 80% on methylprednisolone

What is methylprednisolone used for in dogs?

Methylprednisolone is used in dogs as an anti-inflammatory medication, an immune suppressant, or as a hormone. 

Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, methylprednisolone can relieve swelling, pain, and other symptoms of arthritis, allergies, bronchial asthma, eye conditions, injuries, or overwhelming infections. 

At high doses, methylprednisolone can suppress the immune system in dogs with autoimmune diseases such as lupus or Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

As a hormone, methylprednisolone can replace cortisol in dogs with an underactive adrenal gland.

Inflammation

As with other commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory steroids like prednisone or prednisolone, veterinarians prescribe lower doses of methylprednisolone to relieve the symptoms of joint pain, allergic reactions, dermatitis, itchy skin, musculoskeletal conditions, injuries, or inflammatory eye conditions such as secondary glaucoma. 

Methylprednisolone injections are FDA-approved to save the lives of animals with overwhelming infections like critical pneumonia. In these cases, methylprednisolone blocks the body’s potentially fatal inflammatory response. Snakebite is another candidate for emergency methylprednisolone injections.

As an anti-inflammatory, methylprednisolone may also be used in dogs with cancer to help alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments.

Inflammatory conditions

In high doses, corticosteroids like methylprednisolone can relieve or prevent flare-ups of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. These are all disorders caused by an overactive immune system attacking healthy tissues. To end or prevent autoimmune flare-ups, high-dose methylprednisolone weakens the immune response causing the flare-ups. 

Emergencies

Methylprednisolone injections can save the lives of animals with overwhelming infections like critical pneumonia. In these cases, dogs can die from the immune response to the infection. Methylprednisolone blocks that immune response to give the dog a chance to survive. Snakebite is another candidate for emergency methylprednisolone injections.

Hormone replacement

Cortisol is the corticosteroid naturally produced by the adrenal gland. It is essential to many of the body’s basic processes, so an adrenal that doesn’t produce enough cortisol can cause serious problems. Called adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease, an underactive adrenal gland is only rarely diagnosed in dogs—the incidence is less than one half of 1%. The symptoms are not specific and include reduced appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, shivering, and others. The veterinarian will need a blood test to confirm a diagnosis. 

Methylprednisolone is usually not a veterinarian’s first choice to treat adrenal insufficiency. It’s a powerful drug as a glucocorticoid—one function of cortisol—but very weak as a mineralocorticoid—the second function of cortisol. Veterinarians prefer drugs like prednisone paired with the mineralocorticoid desoxycorticosterone pivalate to achieve the full effects of cortisol.

Is methylprednisolone safe for dogs?

The FDA has approved methylprednisolone tablets and injections for use in dogs. When prescribed by a veterinarian, methylprednisolone is considered safe relative to the problems it treats. 

Because of its potent effects, methylprednisolone may not be safe for every dog to take. Methylprednisolone is never given to dogs with:

• A history of sensitivity to methylprednisolone
• A fungal infection inside the body (systemic fungal infection)
• A viral infection
• Arrested tuberculosis
• Gastrointestinal ulcers
• A corneal ulcer
• Acute psychosis
• Excess cortisol levels (Cushing’s syndrome)

In addition to all the contraindications listed above, methylprednisolone injections into a joint, tendon, or other localized tissue are contraindicated in dogs with an active infection in that location.

Veterinarians will use methylprednisolone cautiously in dogs with:

• Bacterial infections
• Diabetes mellitus
• Congestive heart failure
• Osteoporosis
• Chronic psychotic conditions
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Active tuberculosis
• Blood clot problems

Although not contraindicated, pregnancies in a dog may be terminated by methylprednisolone. The drug can also cause birth defects.

Side effects of methylprednisolone in dogs

The most common side effects of methylprednisolone in dogs include:

• Increased appetite
• Increased thirst and drinking
• Increased urination
• Behavior changes
• Panting

Other potential side effects include:

• Dry or dull-looking coat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weight gain
• Elevated liver enzymes

Serious side effects include:

• Stomach or intestinal ulcers
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Gastrointestinal perforation
• Secondary infections 
• High blood sugar (diabetes) or worsening of diabetes
• Muscle wasting
• Severe changes in behavior

Because of the risk of serious side effects, pet parents should contact the veterinarian if they notice any signs of a potentially severe adverse effect like:

• Blood in the stools
• Black and tarry stools
• Bloody vomit
• “Coffee grounds” vomit (blood clots in the vomit)
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination
• Lethargy
• Fever

Interactions of methylprednisolone with other pet meds

Methylprednisolone is a powerful steroid that affects nearly every system in the body. For this reason, the veterinarian needs to know about all the drugs, remedies, and supplements the dog is being given, particularly:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

These drugs also cause ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.

• Insulin

Insulin doses may need to be increased because methylprednisolone raises blood sugar levels.

• Diuretics 

Methylprednisolone can cause low potassium. Diuretics increase that risk.

• Live vaccines

Live vaccines may cause a real infection when given with immune-suppressing drugs like methylprednisolone. 

• Drugs that slow the body’s metabolism of methylprednisolone

Drugs like azole antifungals and macrolide antibiotics increase the risk of methylprednisolone side effects.

• Drugs that speed up the body’s metabolism of methylprednisolone

Drugs like barbiturates, ephedrine, and rifampin make methylprednisolone less effective.

Methylprednisolone can alter the results of many different types of very important veterinary tests, including tests for:

• Cortisol levels
• Cholesterol levels
• Blood sugar levels
• Potassium levels
• Thyroid hormone levels
• White blood cell levels
• Bacterial infections
• Allergies

Methylprednisolone dosage for dogs

Veterinarians are advised to use methylprednisolone at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. That gives them a much greater dosing range than the recommended dosages. The prescription information that comes with veterinary formulations of methylprednisolone recommends the following dosages: 

• Recommended methylprednisolone dosage (tablets): 
  • In dogs weighing 5–15 lbs.: 2 mg daily given in divided doses every six to 10 hours
  • In dogs weighing 15–40 lbs.: 2–4 mg daily given in divided doses every six to 10 hours
  • In dogs weighing 40–80 lbs.: 4–8 mg daily given in divided doses every six to 10 hours
• Recommended methylprednisolone dosage (intramuscular injection): 
  • In miniature breeds: 2–40 mg depending on the severity of the condition (weekly if necessary)
  • In larger breeds: 20–120 mg depending on the severity of the condition (weekly if necessary)
• Recommended methylprednisolone dosage (local injection): 10–20 mg injected into the affected area

Methylprednisolone should not be suddenly discontinued. The veterinarian will need to prescribe a gradually decreasing dose. Corticosteroids like methylprednisolone reduce the ability of the body to produce cortisol, a condition called adrenal insufficiency. It’s a serious and even life-threatening complication of corticosteroid therapy. For dogs on methylprednisolone for a long time, the adrenal insufficiency could persist for months after the last dose. The dog may need several weeks of tapering doses to safely discontinue methylprednisolone. 

Can dogs overdose on methylprednisolone?

Dogs can overdose on methylprednisolone. If an overdose is suspected, call the veterinarian or an ASPCA animal poison control center. 

However, most corticosteroid overdoses are caused by the dose itself being set too high. It’s hard to spot because it’s more of a gradual development than a dramatic emergency. The most common signs that a dog is getting too much methylprednisolone are:

• Weight gain
• Pot-bellied appearance
• Thinning skin
• Thin coat, dull coat, or hair loss
• Weakness
• Excessive urination
• Excessive thirst

Can I give my dog methylprednisolone every day?

Veterinarians will prescribe methylprednisolone tablets daily, but injections may be administered one time only, once weekly, or every three or four weeks. Methylprednisolone is safe when taken daily, but chronic use (four months or longer) is likely to cause more pronounced corticosteroid side effects as well as adrenal insufficiency. 

How to give your dog methylprednisolone

Methylprednisolone is administered to dogs as a daily tablet or as occasional injections. Veterinary professionals administer injections, but pet parents are sent home with methylprednisolone tablets or a compounded oral solution. 

When giving methylprednisolone doses:

• Follow the veterinarian’s instructions carefully.
• Small-dose tablets (1 mg and 2 mg tablets) are scored to allow pet owners to divide them into even smaller doses. If you don’t know how to break a tablet in two, ask a veterinary professional or pharmacist to show you the correct procedure.
• Always measure the oral solution dose with a calibrated oral syringe or dropper. 
• Give methylprednisolone tablets or oral solution with food.
• Give doses at the same times each day. 
• Don’t forget any doses. A veterinarian may ask that doses be given several times a day.
• If a dose is missed, give it as soon as it’s remembered. If it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Don’t use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Do not discontinue giving the dog methylprednisolone doses until you’ve talked to the veterinarian. 
  • The veterinarian will usually need to gradually wean the dog off methylprednisolone with gradually decreasing doses.
• Store methylprednisolone tablets at room temperature. Store the oral solution according to the directions provided with the medicine.

Methylprednisolone alternatives for dogs

If methylprednisolone can’t be used in a dog, veterinarians have other options, including:

• Other corticosteroids, including topical steroids for skin or eye conditions
• NSAIDs like carprofen
• Other pain medications
• Antihistamines for allergic reactions or itching
• Immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine

Veterinarians or pet owners can also try nutritional or alternative treatments such as:

• Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
• Glucosamine-chondroitin for joint pain
• Probiotics for inflammatory bowel disease

Summary

Methylprednisolone is a powerful drug that can help dogs with pain, swelling, allergies, asthma, and many serious conditions. It can be a life-saving medication in emergencies. Though methylprednisolone can cause serious side effects, it is safe when given under the care of a veterinarian and if pet parents watch their dog carefully for signs of side effects or other problems.