Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Prednisone is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q12-24h in dogs, per 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.771' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.744; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.744. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Prednisone is used in dogs for Anti-inflammatory, Immunosuppressive (IMHA, ITP). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Prednisone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Deltasone
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12-24h | Taper after 5-7 days | Anti-inflammatory | 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 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.771 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.771' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.744; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.744. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| PO | 2–4 mg/kg | q12h initially | Slow taper over weeks-months | Immunosuppressive (IMHA, ITP) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed p.1061, PrednisoLONE/Prednisone/PrednisoLONE Sodium Succinate monograph, section DOGS/CATS / Immunosuppressive agent, located 2026-08-05 by monograph + species-section + exact figure match. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: 'p.1061' is the PRINTED page number, confirmed by finding the drug named on it in the held copy. — 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 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | • Anti-inflammatory: 0.5-1 mg/kg q12-24h IV, IM, or PO initially, then taper to |
| 0.3–0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | q48h at a dose of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg. |
| 2.2–6.6 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | • Immunosuppressive: 2.2-6.6 mg/kg/day IV, IM, or PO initially, then taper to |
| 2–4 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | 2-4 mg/kg q48h. Initial doses rarely need to exceed 4 mg/kg per day. |
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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.
Prodrug converted to prednisolone by the liver. Modulates gene transcription via glucocorticoid receptors, suppressing inflammatory/immune responses.
INEFFECTIVE in cats (cannot convert to prednisolone — use prednisolone instead). PU/PD, polyphagia. GI ulceration. Iatrogenic Cushing's with chronic use. Taper when discontinuing.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Prednisone dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 0.5–1 mg/kg q12-24h; PO 2–4 mg/kg q12h initially. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Prednisone in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Prednisone in dogs include: Taper after 5-7 days; Slow taper over weeks-months. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Prednisone is indicated in dogs for: Anti-inflammatory, Immunosuppressive (IMHA, ITP).
These are general warnings for Prednisone across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. INEFFECTIVE in cats (cannot convert to prednisolone — use prednisolone instead). PU/PD, polyphagia. GI ulceration. Iatrogenic Cushing's with chronic use. Taper when discontinuing.
Why a species-specific page? Prednisone 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.
| 4 |
| — |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 |
| 2-4 mg/kg q48h. Initial doses rarely need to exceed 4 mg/kg per day. |
| 0.2–0.3 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | • Replacement therapy: 0.2-0.3 mg/kg/day PO. |
| 2 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | • Neurologic disease (steroid responsive): Start with 2 mg/kg q12h PO for 2 days, |
| 1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | followed by gradual tapering to 1 mg/kg, then 0.5 mg/kg, and eventually to |
| 0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | followed by gradual tapering to 1 mg/kg, then 0.5 mg/kg, and eventually to |
| Dose (mg/m2) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | • Cancer therapy (e.g., COAP protocol): 40 mg/m2 q24h for 7 days, then 20 mg/m2 |
| 20 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.700 | • Cancer therapy (e.g., COAP protocol): 40 mg/m2 q24h for 7 days, then 20 mg/m2 |
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.