The Prednisone Predicament

Usually I post about gardening and cooking, but the introduction of Prednisone into our house this past week and its effect on poor old Malcolm warrants a mention for any pet owners who might discover this entry.

Malcolm, our 5-year-old mixed breed pit bull, got sick after a recent kennel stay. His bordetella vaccine was eight months old and he came back with a nasty cough and runny, mucousy eyes. We thumbed through the phone directory early Sunday morning and found a vet clinic that was open.

Along with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds, the vet prescribed a steroid, Prednisone, to boost his immunity system. Well, it worked. It also made him aggressive and prone to quick changes in behavior. He snarled at Scrappy a lot, baring his teeth every time the 20-pound puppy got near Karen. I had to keep the little one behind a baby gate for a few days to limit their interaction and the chance that Malcolm might snap him in two.

When he wasn't staring down Scrappy, Malcolm curled up and slept. He stopped playing in the yard and wouldn't go outside. He gave me the big saucer eyes every time I came in the room. We took him off Prednisone after five days. Two days later his moods returned to normal. We'll never give him that stuff again.