BehavioRx Case of the Month
for September 1999

Summertime Allergies and the "ITCH"
A Behavior-Health Alert

The following information is presented in the wake of a virtual "wave" of HelpLine and diagnostic service inquiries this summer involving sudden changes in the behavior of both dogs and cats. The complaints ranged from cats who began hiding from the owners... to cats and dogs who:

-suddenly became "moody" and defensive/aggressive when approached by family members, growling while eating;
-were restless, paced, insomnia;
-started urinating in the house.

Two of the dogs who growled were physically punished and had bitten the owners.

All the pets suffered from summertime allergies which caused excessive scratching/licking. Each behavior complaint had the same cause: Adverse side-effects to anti-inflammatory adrenocorticalsteroids, either Prednisone or Prednisolone.

The cases had the same effective therapy:

The clients were referred to their veterinarians and the doctors adjusted the dosage gradually downward until the side-effects either abated or ceased.

The clients all had apparently been advised by their veterinarians at the time the drug was prescribed or administered to report any changes in the pet's health or behavior. Yet, those owners who contacted us did not associate the behavior changes with the drug!

Humans and dogs may react to steroids in similar ways. For our readers' information, here is a paragraph from the Physicians Desk Reference, 1998 (p.1798):

"Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression, to frank psychic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids."

Anti-inflammatory steroids provide life-saving relief. However, every dog owner whose pet is treated should heed the veterinarian's instructions:

Watch for behavioral side-effects and---should even minor changes be noticed---get on the telephone and report them!

WARNING: NEVER STOP STEROID MEDICATIONS ABRUPTLY.
FOLLOW YOUR VETERINARIAN'S DOSAGE SCHEDULE.

P.S. A few questions and answers on this subject between owners and a veterinarian appear at:

http://www.vetinfo.com/dpred.html#Behavior changes and Prednisone

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