Glucocorticoids and Cats

Lowe, A. D., K. L. Campbell, et al. (2008). "Glucocorticoids in the cat." Vet Dermatol 19(6): 340-7.

Some of the most common drugs prescribed in veterinary practice are glucocorticoids, due to their variety of therapeutic effects. Cats do not experience as many adverse effects with glucocorticoids as other species, such as humans and dogs. However, cats can experience adverse reactions, including skin atrophy and fragility, poor wound healing, and a predisposition to diabetes mellitus and possibly congestive heart failure. Steroid hepatopathy is less likely to occur in cats or is less detectable than in dogs. Prednisolone is the metabolically active drug preferred in cats. Studies have shown that time of day dosing is probably not as important in cats as in other species. Use of short to intermediate-acting glucocorticoids is preferable in case of adverse effects and the need for discontinuance of therapy. Use of repositrol glucocorticoids (such as methylprednisolone) should be reserved for situations where oral dosing is not possible. Care should be given to the use of glucocorticoids in cats at risk for diabetes mellitus or with pre-existing heart disease. [VT]
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Related articles:
Lowe, A. D., K. L. Campbell, et al. (2008). "Clinical, clinicopathological and histological changes observed in 14 cats treated with glucocorticoids." Vet Rec 162(24): 777-83.
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