Prednisone/Lab Work

[Newfx2]

My new rescue boy has been on a taper of Prednisone. He will need to have lab work done for kidney and liver levels. How long should I wait to have this done? I was told if I did it to soon, it could give a false reading. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Bluedog]

Not sure about liver and kidney levels, but it will affect a CBC, as Pred is an immune suppressant. May also affect platelet count. Are the tests simply to monitor his levels while on the Pred. or to test for a specific disorder other than his current reason for Pred treatment? Is he on anything else besides Pred?It's probably best to talk to your vet and see what he/she advises, but I'm sure whatever the results they will take the Pred. treatment into consideration when reviewing levels.

[ 09-08-2007, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Bluedog ]

 

[Sherrie]

Pred can cause liver problems. I would have him checked asap. I don't know of any false reading from checking "to soon". If he is being weaned off pred then maybe they want to wait to see what the levels are at a lower dose but you need to start somewhere with a blood test. Pred is a wonderful, sometimes lifesaving drug but it is also a very dangerous drug at high doses and for extended periods.

 

[Newfx2]

Sherrie and Nancy..Thanks for the information...Yes..he has been in the process of being weaned off the prednisone as well as on SMZ/TMP. When we got him he had severe allergic dermatitis, hair loss, skin infection, as well as being quite emaciated, ear infections...etc..He had a vet visit yesterday and is doing better. She suggested we wait another couple of weeks before labs. I wanted to get NN opinions as well.........Thanks again.

 

[jane]

Do yourself a favor and keep an eye on the levels. I just posted in "Rainbow Bridge" about Buddy, my husbands lab mix. He was living w/Dan's mom and was on Pred for quite a long time. It helped w/part of his issue, but in the long run I think it is what killed him. Too many of his late symptoms were symptoms of liver failure.

 

[Sherrie]

Pred along with Imuran kept our girl alive when she came down with AIHA. Later Pred came close to killing her. She was going downhill fast with liver enzymes sky rocketing. All caused by Pred. When we started weaning her from Pred she started recovering. Liver enzymes went back to normal.
It is good he is being weaned off if he can tolerate it. Pred is a great drug but can also be a dangerous one.

 

[NewfMom]

Our Moose is on pred and will be for the rest of his life. He has atypical Addison's and the pred keeps him alive. However, the pred does cause elevated liver enzymes. (Of course the Addison's had put him in liver failure before it was treated).

It sounds like the vet wants to check that the liver enzymes are normal when your rescue boy is off the pred. Check with the vet how long to wait before doing the bloodwork but my guess would be a week or two.

I've gotten the impression that most of the danger in prednisone is in long term use. If you look at the
pain management thread I have pictures of what's been going on with Moose due to long term use of prednisone. He's about 85 pounds and has been taking pred for a little over 2 years. His current dose is 5.25 mg daily

 

[Sherrie]

The dose our girl was on was 80 mg a day for 3 months and at that level there was muscle wasting/deterioration, high liver enzymes etc.

 

[Ksullivan]

My last ShihTzu was on it off and on for years due to alergies. In his later years he got Cushings Disease. In looking up, and reading about it they said it can be due to long use of steroids.