ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/methylprednisolone
US brand names:Medrol
Methylprednisolone is dosed at 1 mg/kg IV q24h in eastern box turtles, per 151. Jepson L. Turtles and tortoises. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier; 2009:358-411. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1416 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Intermediate-acting synthetic glucocorticoid that suppresses inflammation and immune responses via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated gene transcription changes.
PU/PD, polyphagia, hepatomegaly with chronic use. Taper gradually. Less mineralocorticoid effect than cortisone or hydrocortisone.
Species references:All African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Red-eared Slider drugsAll Russian Tortoise drugsAll Sulcata Tortoise drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 7 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q24h for induction, then taper to alternate-day | Strong | Yu A. What's New in Atopic Dermatitis in Cats? Proceedings 66th Convention of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Published online 2014.; Ganz EC, Griffin CE, Keys DA, Flatgard TA. Evaluation of methylprednisolone and triamcinolone for the induction and maintenance treatment of pruritus in allergic cats: a double-blinded, randomized, prospective study. Vet Dermatol. 2012;23(5):387-e72. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2012.01058.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.893 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.863, Methylprednisolone monograph spanning p.863-866; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 | ORIGINAL SOURCE THE BOOK CITES (2026-08-20): the dose row carries superscript 7 — "0.5 mg/kg PO every 24 hours7 tion center specializing in providing vet" — which resolves in the monograph's own reference list to: Nishida H, Tanaka H, Kitamura M, Inaba T, Nakayama M. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate reduces spinal cord swelling but does not affect recovery of dogs with surgically treated thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation. Jpn J Vet Res. 2016;64(3):191-196. This records what the handbook attributes the figure to. It is NOT a statement that the reference was read or that it validates the dose. |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q12-24h, then taper | Weak | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th Ed, Part A - Canine and Feline, p.260 (corpus PDF p.276), Methylprednisolone, DOSES, Dogs — 0.2-0.5 mg/kg p.o. q12h (inflammation) and 1-3 mg/kg p.o. q12h (immunosuppression); mid-range corroborated by Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) p.865 0.4-0.8 mg/kg PO q12-24h — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |