Super Velcro

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

It is 100 degrees in Napa right now and I just shut my dogs inside and went outside to get away from them! I just moved into town from being out in the country and they have always been pretty "velcroey" especially Moby - but now it is crazy! I was on 2 acres before - and while they did not have the run of the land - they had a lot of it. So I am compensating by daily dog park trips - which they love - and which is actually better as Barley really can get his "ya yas" out and really run. Moby is the big problem - and he cannot help it. He is old - and getting a bit senile - and is incredibly restless unless I am sitting right next to him. The minute I get up - he gets up - and it is not easy for him to do that. The prednisone he is on is causing him to pant endlessly - unless he is totally at rest. He cannot go down the stairs to the bedroom - and can barely make it up them - so I literally have to either run up to my bedroom or put him outside - or put a chair in front of the steps. The panting drives me nuts when I am working and trying to focus - I just want him away from me - and I LOVE him so so so much. I am not someone who sits much - so this is not good for me - or for them. I have Moby on tramadol, prednisone - and gabapantin- in addition to glucosamine and cholodin. At first I thought he was in pain - but it did not change when I fed him and gave him his pain meds. In fact, I wonder if he is still in pain - or if any of these medications are causing this extreme restlessness. Any ideas before I take a trip to the North Pole to escape the velcro?

[Labradorks]

Can you get him off the prednisone?

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

Well - the prednisone is for another condition called masticatory muscle myositis. I think he needs to stay on it to decrease the inflammation in his jaw - because if he can no longer eat - well, you know. He has not finished his first bottle of the pills yet - so when they are about done - I plan to call the vet and see what the next plan will be. This is just hard - he has had many things wrong with him - but he is still enjoying life - loves his dog walks, dog park walks and his food. Things are NOT as they used to be for him - and recognize he is declining. Awful.

[Jeff]

Prednizone was my first thought too. That makes them act like this a lot. The panting and kind of not in their right mind and clingy. If it is needed then it's needed but it is one of those I try not to give unless needed. There is an alternate to prednizone that is lighter so it doesn't work as well but it doesn't have all the side effects, unfortunately I don't remember the name of it, it was a few years ago Hemi had it when Hemi had something less serious and I asked for an alternative. Maybe someone else does though that reads this.

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

Prednizone was my first thought too. That makes them act like this a lot. The panting and kind of not in their right mind and clingy. If it is needed then it's needed but it is one of those I try not to give unless needed. There is an alternate to prednizone that is lighter so it doesn't work as well but it doesn't have all the side effects, unfortunately I don't remember the name of it, it was a few years ago Hemi had it when Hemi had something less serious and I asked for an alternative. Maybe someone else does though that reads this.

I am super happy to hear you say it is the prednisone - because tonight I was just convinced he was staring at me to tell me that "it was the time." I will call the vet this week and see if I can get an alternative. I do think he is going to need a steroid - probably for the rest of his days...

[Doreen Davis]

Our vets said the panting could be a sign of pain when our guys got older. We used tramadol, gabapentin and Rimadyl and it kept our collie relatively pain free for a good long time. Prednisone "jazzes" all the systems up, hunger, thirst etc.

[MikeLynn]

As for prednisone and corticosteroids in general, I believe, they also cause, at least in humans, mood swings from euphoria, anxiety to anger (source: my 20 year experience with prednisone for MS)

[Jeff]

As for prednisone and corticosteroids in general, I believe, they also cause, at least in humans, mood swings from euphoria, anxiety to anger (source: my 20 year experience with prednisone for MS)

My mom was on it for a long time, I don't remember what for but she said while she was on it, she never really felt in her right mind either.

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

I went rogue yesterday and halved the dosage. Some of the behavior has lessened a bit. I had thought the panting was pain also - but there was no change with the panting right after he took pain meds - so I am certain the behavior is a result of the prednisone. I wish I could completely take him off of it - but I do think he needs it. The clingy part has not really changed...

[Maxx&Emma]

Another human experience, it makes me feel like I want to jump out of my skin, it is an awful feeling. Between the meds and your recent move I would imagine the poor guy is a bit stressed. Do you mind if I ask why he is on Prednisone?