Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Prednisolone is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q24h in horses, per Marsella R. Equine allergy therapy update on the treatment of environmental, insect bite hypersensitivity, and food allergies. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2013;29(3):551-557. PMID: 24267674 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1089 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.1089' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.1062; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.1062. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Prednisolone is used in horses for Inflammatory conditions, recurrent airway obstruction. Routes documented in horses: PO. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Prednisolone in horses, 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 | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q24h | Taper over 1-2 weeks | Inflammatory conditions, recurrent airway obstruction | Strong | Marsella R. Equine allergy therapy update on the treatment of environmental, insect bite hypersensitivity, and food allergies. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2013;29(3):551-557. PMID: 24267674 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1089 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.1089' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.1062; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.1062. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–1 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.695 | • 0.5-1 mg/kg q12-24h IM or IV. Intravenous dose should be given slowly over |
| 15–30 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.696 | recommended doses are 15-30 mg/kg IV; repeat dose in 4-6 hours. |
| 0.5–1 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.698 | • Prednisolone tablets: 0.5-1 mg/kg q12-24h PO. Taper to lower dose for long- |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Prednisolone dose range in horses, with cited source references: PO 0.5–2 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Prednisolone in horses: PO.
Cited course lengths for Prednisolone in horses include: Taper over 1-2 weeks. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Prednisolone is indicated in horses for: Inflammatory conditions, recurrent airway obstruction.
These are general warnings for Prednisolone across species; consult the horse 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 horses — 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.