Recently, a young cat almost crippled by immune-mediated polyarthritis was brought to me by her guardian. She had been given steroids to treat her condition, but they made her develop diabetes, while stronger chemotherapy almost killed her. The specialist treating her was out of options and told her guardian to prepare for her death. After several months of intensive natural therapies, including herbs and homeopathics, she is not only doing better but is running and jumping! Her diabetes also reversed when we lowered her medication. She still requires a tiny dose of steroids or she goes into a relapse, but I expect her to live a happy, normal life, a much better prognosis than she was originally given.

Corticosteroids (“steroids”) are often used to help relieve pain, inflammation and itching in animals with arthritis or allergies. In fact, corticosteroids such as prednisone and prednisolone are among the most frequently used and abused drugs in veterinary medicine. It’s just too easy to reach for the “steroid shot” to treat symptoms without really treating the disease. As a result, animals are often incorrectly treated for months or years before someone finally says: “Enough. There must be a better way!”

The PROS and CONS of steroids
While chronic steroid use has many potential side effects that can harm your animal, these medications can be used safely. For some animals, short-term use of steroids can be life-saving, particularly in patients with severe shock or certain immune diseases. In my own practice, I often use low doses of steroids for a very short period to help relieve itching, inflammation, swelling or pain while other natural therapies are beginning to work. However, please understand that while short term use of steroids might be needed for your animal, more natural therapies are preferred whenever possible for long term maintenance of animals with chronic problems.

SHORT-TERM SIDE EFFECTS of corticosteroids are the ones most commonly observed and that seem to cause the most concern. They include an increase in appetite, water intake and urine output. Even animals taking these medications for a short period and at a very low dose can show these effects. The higher the dose, the worse the problem. While these side effects are not harmful, they upset many people. I strive to use the lowest possible dose for the shortest length of time.

LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS are a totally different story.
They include:
Heart (cardiovascular system): hypertension, sodium/water retention
Skin: acne, infections, excessive bruising, atrophy (degeneration or thinning) of the skin, hair loss
Hormonal/reproductive: infertility, growth failure, hyperadrenocorticism, hypoadrenocorticism, birth defects, abortion
Gastrointestinal: ulcers, pancreatitis, perforation of the stomach or intestines
Immune system: suppression and decreased ability to resist infections
Metabolic: increased blood fat, fatty liver disease, obesity
Musculoskeletal: osteoporosis, muscle weakness
Nervous system: hyperactivity, lethargy
Eye: glaucoma, cataracts.
Respiratory: thromboembolism

Laboratory tests can also show artificial changes in liver enzymes, white blood cell values, and the thyroid. The longer the steroids are used, and the higher the dose prescribed, the greater the chance of developing any of these side effects.