Corticosteroids, including cortisone and prednisone, are the prescribed medications that are used to treat cancer in pets. The reason that cortisone and similar steroids are such popular treatments for cancer in dogs is that they can reduce inflammation, possibly shrink tumors, and assist with pain.

The problem with steroidal medications such as cortisone and prednisone is that they come with a host of side effects that are not only uncomfortable for pets but also difficult for pet owners to manage.

To help you understand the role of steroids in treating cancer, we look at the reasons that medications such as cortisone and prednisone are used to treat cancer in dogs, their side effects, and how long steroids can be used as a cancer treatment.

Why is Prednisone Used to Treat Cancer in Dogs?

Cortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone are some of the most common steroidal medications that are used to treat cancer in pets.

Both prednisone and prednisolone are prescribed in the treatment of brain cancer, mast cell cancer, and even lymphomas in both dogs and cats. The reason these medications are so important in cancer management is that they can improve symptoms of inflammation, nausea, swelling, and pain in only a few days.

It is also effective in reducing high levels of blood calcium (a symptom of cancer), which is life-threatening. High blood calcium is known as hypercalcemia and is a dangerous condition known to cause kidney stones and negatively affect normal brain and heart function.

Research has also found that corticosteroids can kill hematopoietic cancer cells, which shrink tumors and slow the growth of cancer cells.

Steroids are affordable and fast-acting, and along with their anti-cancer properties, they remain a standard prescription medication to treat specific types of cancers in dogs and cats.

What Types of Cancers are Treated with Corticosteroids?

The most common cancers that are treated with corticosteroids include mast cell tumors, lymphomas, and brain cancer in animals.

How Long Can Dogs Be Given Prednisone?

Steroids provide short-term therapy. Dogs should not be on prednisone and similar types of steroids for more than three to four months. The long-term use of these drugs can lead to immunosuppressive disorders such as Cushing’s disease, in which pets experience hair loss, dry skin, and a pot-bellied appearance. Their personalities can also be affected, and they may go from calm to aggressive or restless and hyperactive.

You’ll need to monitor their progress and their health while they’re on steroids because of the multitude of side effects associated with these prescriptions.

Steroids are immunosuppressive, and why many pets develop bladder and respiratory infections on such medication. In fact, up to 30% of dogs develop bladder infections when taking steroids. By improving their diet and introducing immune-boosting remedies, you can help them feel better while strengthening their ability to fight off infections and cancer.

Can Steroids such as Prednisone Shrink Tumors in Dogs?

Prednisone can reduce the rate at which tumors grow and, in some cases, has reduced the size of mast cell tumors in dogs. It works by reducing inflammatory responses and cancer cell growth; however, it is dependent on the stage of cancer and the size of the tumor.

What are the Side Effects of Steroids in Dogs?

Corticosteroids can cause troublesome symptoms in pets. Common side effects include:

• Increased appetite and weight gain
• Panting
• Fatigue
• Large potbelly
• Poor coat condition
• Loss of muscle mass

The prolonged use of prednisone causes hair loss, excessive panting, and depression or hyperactivity in pets.

Prednisolone may cause lethargy, constant panting, thinning hair, gastrointestinal upset, black stools, and a high risk of infections.

Any sign of gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, should be discussed with a vet.

Corticosteroids cannot be used with NSAIDs because they increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers and abdominal perforations in pets, which are painful and life-threatening.

You’ll also have to taper the use of steroids in dogs and cats that have been taking the prescription medication for more than 2 weeks. Never quit the use of these steroids cold turkey, as it could make animals incredibly sick and send them into shock.

Is Prednisone the Best Treatment for Cancer in Dogs?

Cancer is a complex and nasty disease that causes horrible symptoms and physical changes in our beloved pets. We want what’s best for them, and when steroids are prescribed as a treatment, we have to understand why they’re necessary, the duration of treatment, and what the side effects are.

Steroids such as prednisone are inexpensive and considered beneficial as a cancer treatment for dogs. Prednisone for dogs can reduce swelling, slow tumor growth, and decrease inflammation within a week.

On the downside, steroids cause uncomfortable side effects and cannot be used as a long-term treatment for cancer. Once the course is completed and they’ve been tapered off the meds, you might be back to square one.

Be prepared to deal with a food monster!

Cortisone will send your dog’s appetite into overdrive! You’ll notice that your dog is constantly looking for food, and despite finishing a meal, they’ll still act as if they’re starved. Of course, giving in to their food drive means rapid weight gain and obesity, which comes with its own set of complications. The problem is that you’re trying to give your pet comfort by relieving cancer symptoms such as pain and swelling, but then you find that prescribed steroids are causing symptoms such as constant hunger, weight gain, and depression. So, do you continue with treatment, or do you quit the cortisone because you don’t want the time they have left to be spent in discomfort?

If you notice that a treatment is affecting their quality of life and the joy and light that was once in their eyes is gone, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. Speak to your vet about alternative therapy for cancer in pets and treatment options to improve their comfort.  

While steroids such as cortisone and prednisone have received a bad rap over the last decade, when they are used strategically and in accordance with cancer-fighting remedies, they can minimize the rapid spread of cancer and reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the disease.