"Pred" is a term that we use for prednisone or prednisolone.  These are cousin drugs that are classified as corticosteroids or "steroids."  They are almost interchangeable so we use them as if they were synonymous.  The difference is that prednisolone is the active form of the drug.  If that drug is taken, it is ready to go to work immediately.  Prednisone must be converted to prednisolone (by the liver) to be in an active form.  It is a little slower to act (by a few minutes to hours).  However, its main disadvantage is if your dog or cat has liver disease.  If the liver is not working well, prednisone my not be converted well and thus may not be very active.

Pred is a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug.  It can be life saving to dogs and cats with a wide variety of diseases, therefore, it is used often.  Prednisone is used to treat a number of conditions which include, but are not limited to, allergies, IBD, back pain/disc disease, and bronchitis.

Most pet owners are quite concerned about side effects from pred.  This concern is generally founded in the problems that people often have who take pred.  However, dogs and cats tend to be less resistant.  Prednisone has many uses  and depending on which disease or condition is being treated the dosage will vary.  Most people have experienced negative side affects from high dosages.  In pets it is mostly used at a very low anti inflammatory dose for short periods of time.  You and your doctor will work together to achieve a schedule of administration so that the lowest effective dose can be given.  The goal is to relieve symptoms without any long term side effects.

The most common side effects seen in dogs and cats are stimulation of thirst and appetite, an increase in urination, and panting.  These are dose related.  They may occur at high doses, but will generally not occur at low (maintenance) doses.  If they do occur, they will stop when the drug is stopped or the dose is lowered.

Pred can be used safely for many years if some precautions are taken:

Use the lowest dose possible.  Pred is usually started at a fairly high dose.  When response occurs the dose is then gradually reduced until the lowest dose is found that will control the disease. 

In some cases, an injectable steroid is given to achieve control of the disease.  Many of the long-acting injectable steroids give relief for 2-4 weeks.  If this is done, pred should be started at the first sign of any recurrence of the disease being treated and used at a low, maintenance dose.