Atopic Dermatitis Factsheet Local Vets in Somerset

For most people, steroid inhalers and steroid injections shouldn’t cause any bad side effects. Steroid tablets are generally prescribed with more caution, as these may cause more problems. In order to reach the diagnosis all other causes of itchiness need to be ruled out. The first major cause of itchiness is ectoparasites i.e. fleas and mites.

• To minimize this risk, corticosteroid doses are tapered down over time, or several different drugs may be used in combination.
• They may also be given dexamethasone sodium phosphate which may be administered intravenously in hospital in the first few days – in more severe cases.
• There’s no evidence to suggest that using a steroid inhaler during pregnancy increases the risk of problems like birth defects.
• Rarely, animals with SRMA can have inflammation of other inner body surfaces, like the covering of the heart (potentially causing abnormal heart rhythm), lungs and abdominal contents (causing the development of some fluid).

There is less chance of this happening with steroid injections or sprays. However, it can occasionally happen if they’re used at high doses and for a long time. It’s sometimes necessary for steroid tablets to be taken for longer periods. In these cases, you may be more likely to develop troublesome side effects.

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Some animals will give a negative result with one test, but a positive with the other. This test should not be done until your pet is approximately 1yr or older. Food allergy is investigated by performing a food trial (see attached sheet). Blood tests for food allergy are not accurate and so we do not recommend these.

• In the presence of bacterial infection, anti-bacterial drug cover is usually required when steroids are used.
• Sometimes it is necessary to use other drugs to compliment the use of steroids, allowing the steroid dose to be reduced whilst still controlling the disease.
• Potassium Bromide can be used as first choice in animals with pre-existing liver disease or animals with very low seizure frequency.
• Unfortunately seizure ‘control’ may not be obtained in up to one third of animals despite adequate therapy.
• These range from being merely somewhat troublesome, through to some which are potentially very significant.
• Steroid hormones are essential for life, they are involved in many different processes in the body.

They also may suffer from effusion, which is where fluid collects in the abdomen and lungs, though both of these issues are rare. The condition is not caused by an infection, and it is not contagious, so your dog can’t pass it on to other pets or people. If you are concerned about the health of your pet you should contact your veterinary surgeon.

Handling storing and administering steroid medication

All of these steroid-induced side effects are reversible and diminish when the dose of steroid is decreased or stopped. All of these steroid-induced side-effects are reversible commemorativecrosses and diminish when the dose of steroid is decreased or stopped. It has various functions but one of the most important is to help regulate electrolyte levels in the blood.

Occasional visits to your neurology clinician or primary care vet may be required during the course of treatment. They may also suggest blood tests every few months to assess the function of organs that may be affected by treatment. How often this is required will be dependent on your pet’s response to treatment. Steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) in dogs is an ‘immune mediated’ or ‘auto-immune’ condition where inflammation occurs in the blood vessels in the lining of the nervous system (the meninges).

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is an organization of veterinarians who have had years of training, education and certification in animal behavior. If you have any queries or concerns about the use of steroids in your pet, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please note, our vets and nurses are unable to respond to questions via this form.

We suspect your pet may have either Atopy or Food Allergic Dermatitis (FAD). Symptoms of Atopy/FAD include:

Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help inform and any opinions expressed within the Knowledge Summaries are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the RCVS Knowledge. The prognosis for SRMA is generally very good, with most patients improving after 2-3 days of treatment and entering clinical remission within 2 weeks. Once your pet starts receiving steroids it is important to not stop treatment abruptly.

Dog Accessories

Clinical indications suggest the dog is likely experiencing idiopathic immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA type I). This speculation is confirmed through blood tests, x-rays, arthrocentesis, and cytological results. The patient has a history of iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome as a result of previous corticosteroid treatment. To avoid a recurrence of iatrogenic Cushing’s, you wonder if any alternative immunosuppressive agents could provide as effective treatment for IMPA type I as prednisone.

What corticosteroids are used for

An example of this includes the treatment of allergic conditions in dogs and cats such as flea allergy dermatitis (skin inflammation and itchiness), asthma-like diseases, food allergies and bee stings. Steroids may also be used for treating conditions such as lupus, Addison’s disease in dogs, and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Steroids for dogs, can be given in the form of medication prescribed by a vet, or they can be naturally occurring steroids produced by the body.