Question For Long Term Pred And Imuran Users

[RobinM]

As most of you know, Beau had been a high dose (40mg) of pred since late January. 40 mg. A few weeks later, we upped the pred to 50mg and added in the imuran.

 

It was at that time, Beau started to thrieve.

 

He was steadily putting on weight and as early as March we lowered the pred slowly down to 30mg where we held for a while.

 

We are down to .5mg and 12.5 mg of imuran a day (broken in 4).

 

What I've noticed is that Beau's coat has thinned out majorly. I'm sure part of it is that it was summer so he "blew his coat" but I just brushed him and there was enough hair for a small dog. I have been brushing once a week. His coat once thick has thinned out.

 

Anyone know for sure if that a reaction from the long term use of pred?

[Batmom]

Have never seen that but don't have oodles of experience there.

 

I *do* know that fall shedding season has begun.

[HopeForHounds]

I don't know about dogs, but my Mom was on pred for 28 years after her kidney transplant. Her hair and skin got progressively thinner. Her doctors said it was because of the pred.

[greyhndz]

Yup, Robin. Side effect of long-term pred. Same thing happened to Lexi.

[RobinM]

Yup, Robin. Side effect of long-term pred. Same thing happened to Lexi.

 

 

least of our problems, but I was wondering if it will grow back thicker. Where they shaved him for the surgery in January has just started to grow back... just very thin.

 

[greyhndz]

least of our problems, but I was wondering if it will grow back thicker. Where they shaved him for the surgery in January has just started to grow back... just very thin.

 

 

Well, unfortunately I can't share my experience with Lexi because she crossed the Bridge 3 weeks ago, and was never able to get off steroids. But once Beau's off for a while, as long as nutritionally he's doing well, I'd expect normal hair growth.

 

At least in humans, hair loss and regrowth can be caused by major illness, physical or psychological trauma, and certainly malnutrition -- and can lag behind for many months. Hopefully, now that he's doing well and is almost off pred, you'll see nice hair regrowth soon.

 

I doubt it's the Imuran. Jared, Lexi's litterbrother, has been on Imuran for about 7 years (thrombocytopenia), without any side effects. (Unless eating poop is considered a side effect... )

[brandimom]

Brandi has been on pred since 2004 starting with a high dosage of 60 mg per day and now down to 20 mg every other day. The hair loss began in 2004 and my holistic vet told me to expect the hair loss.

[2hounds]

Mia has been on 5mg of pred every other day for over a year now. She started at 50mg almost 2.5 years ago, we brought her down slowly and at one point she was on both pred and imuran.

 

She does have a very thin silky coat, we usually put jammies on her in the winter time. Unfortunately in her case every time we try to take her completely off of the pred, she flares back up, so we have accepted that she will probably have to take it for the rest of her life. I know it can cause problems with long term use, but it is a hard decision to make when we are thinking about long term pred usage vs. possibly losing her without it.

Edited September 12, 2009 by 2hounds

[tbhounds]

With pred you can expect a thin haircoat with little or no re-growth, muscle loss and a pot-bellied appearance--they appear to look like a dog with cushings disease.

[RobinM]

yep, that's Beau. He's on only .5 mg but after all the time on the higher doses... that's the way he looks.

 

I brushed him and couldn't believe what came off of him.

[ozgirl2]

Mia has been on 5mg of pred every other day for over a year now. She started at 50mg almost 2.5 years ago, we brought her down slowly and at one point she was on both pred and imuran.

 

She does have a very thin silky coat, we usually put jammies on her in the winter time. Unfortunately in her case every time we try to take her completely off of the pred, she flares back up, so we have accepted that she will probably have to take it for the rest of her life. I know it can cause problems with long term use, but it is a hard decision to make when we are thinking about long term pred usage vs. possibly losing her without it.

 

 

Alisha - that was pretty much my choice with Cody - keep her on the pred & face long-term effects or lose her right then! Kept her on the pred for 1.5 years.