Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Prednisolone is dosed at 2–4 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Prednisolone is used in dogs for Immunosuppressive, Anti-inflammatory. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Prednisolone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Delta-Cortef, Prelone
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2–4 mg/kg | q12h | Taper over weeks to months | Immunosuppressive | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12-24h | Taper after 5-7 days | Anti-inflammatory | Strong | Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Prednisolone, Prednisolone Acetate, Small Animal Dosage — Dogs, printed p.669 (corpus p.697) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Binds intracellular glucocorticoid receptors, modulating gene transcription. Suppresses inflammatory and immune responses at multiple levels.
PU/PD, polyphagia, weight gain, iatrogenic Cushing's. Immunosuppression risk. GI ulceration (especially with NSAIDs). Do not abruptly discontinue after chronic use. Cats require prednisolone (not prednisone).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Prednisolone dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 2–4 mg/kg q12h; PO 0.5–1 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Prednisolone in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Prednisolone in dogs include: Taper over weeks to months; Taper after 5-7 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Prednisolone is indicated in dogs for: Immunosuppressive, Anti-inflammatory.
These are general warnings for Prednisolone across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. PU/PD, polyphagia, weight gain, iatrogenic Cushing's. Immunosuppression risk. GI ulceration (especially with NSAIDs). Do not abruptly discontinue after chronic use. Cats require prednisolone (not prednisone).
Why a species-specific page? Prednisolone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.