What is Prednisone used for?

Prednisone is indicated for: Adjunct therapy, Anti-inflammatory, Immunosuppressive (IMHA, ITP), leukaemia, Lymphoma, mediastinal neoplasia, myeloproliferative disease.

Which species have cited Prednisone dosing data?

Prednisone dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 7 species: Bearded Dragon, Chinchilla, Dog (Domestic), Dwarf Hamster, Gerbil, Mouse, Rabbit (Domestic).

Is Prednisone a controlled substance?

Prednisone is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Prednisone

US brand names:Deltasone

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Prednisone is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12-24h in rabbits, per Andres K, Kent M, Seidlecki C, et al. The use of megavoltage radiation therapy in the treatment of thymoma in rabbits: 19 cases. Vet Comp Oncol. 2012;10:82-94. | Donnelly TM. Rabbit with cutaneous lymphoma: chemotherapy options and drug doses. VIN Vet-to-Vet Message Boards. www.vin.com. | Heatley JJ, Smith AN. Spontaneous neoplasms of lagomorphs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2004;7:561-577. | Perez K, Chen S, Antinoff N. Use of prednisolone in six rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with cranial mediastinal disease. Proc Conf Annu Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2017:252-253. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.870 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.7 (Chemotherapeutic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Immunosuppressant

Routes

Indications

Adjunct therapy

Immunosuppressive (IMHA, ITP)

mediastinal neoplasia

myeloproliferative disease

Mechanism of Action

Prodrug converted to prednisolone by the liver. Modulates gene transcription via glucocorticoid receptors, suppressing inflammatory/immune responses.

Side effects & warnings

INEFFECTIVE in cats (cannot convert to prednisolone — use prednisolone instead). PU/PD, polyphagia. GI ulceration. Iatrogenic Cushing's with chronic use. Taper when discontinuing.

Evidence levels across 8 dose rules

Strong×2Weak×6

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 8 cited rules)

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
Dog (Domestic)	PO	2–4 mg/kg	q12h initially	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed p.1061, PrednisoLONE/Prednisone/PrednisoLONE Sodium Succinate monograph, section DOGS/CATS / Immunosuppressive agent.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Dog (Domestic)	PO	0.5–1 mg/kg	q12-24h	Strong	Johnson KC, Mackin A. Canine immune-mediated polyarthritis: part 2: diagnosis and treatment. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2012;48(2):71-82. PMID: 22267168 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.744

Backed by 6 published sourcesShow

· 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.802 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).
· 63. Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.262 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.8 (Hormones and Steroids Used in Reptiles).
· Andres K, Kent M, Seidlecki C, et al. The use of megavoltage radiation therapy in the treatment of thymoma in rabbits: 19 cases. Vet Comp Oncol. 2012;10:82-94. | Donnelly TM. Rabbit with cutaneous lymphoma: chemotherapy options and drug doses. VIN Vet-to-Vet Message Boards. www.vin.com. | Heatley JJ, Smith AN. Spontaneous neoplasms of lagomorphs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2004;7:561-577. | Perez K, Chen S, Antinoff N. Use of prednisolone in six rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) with cranial mediastinal disease. Proc Conf Annu Assoc Exot Mam Vet; 2017:252-253. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.870 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.7 (Chemotherapeutic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).

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· Johnson KC, Mackin A. Canine immune-mediated polyarthritis: part 2: diagnosis and treatment. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2012;48(2):71-82. PMID: 22267168 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.744

· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.802 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed p.1061, PrednisoLONE/Prednisone/PrednisoLONE Sodium Succinate monograph, section DOGS/CATS / Immunosuppressive agent.