Evaluation of side effects and metabolic disorders in dogs treated with prednisone and deflazacort

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of adverse and metabolic effects caused by glucocorticoids used as antipruritic therapy in dogs. Two groups were studied. Group 1 consisted of six dogs treated with 0.5 mg/kg prednisone every 24 hours for seven days, subsequently on alternate days for one week, and then twice a week until 30 days of treatment were completed. Group 2 consisted of six dogs treated with 0.2 mg/kg deflazacort every 72 hours for 30 days. Clinical and laboratory changes were already evident 15 days after treatment onset in both groups. However, deflazacort promoted more metabolical alterations compared to prednisone with respect to hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and high levels of ALT and ALP. These values improved after the interval between prednisone administrations was increased, which reinforces the importance of protocols with spaced dosage in chronic therapies.