Dangers of self medicating pets

This cross bred dog was brought to the Humane Animal Society Clinic for evaluation of alopecia ( hair loss) and obesity.

Owners complained that she has been putting on weight despite diet restrictions and developed hardened skin areas in the caudal abdomen despite some 'medications' that they gave.

 On inquiring further, they revealed that this dog was on steroids for the last one year!!!. The owner had some skin problems for which her doctor prescribed steroids and when she saw her dog 'itching a lot' she started a course of steroids for the dog.

 "The itching subsided after I started to give her steroids, but kept on coming back whenever I stopped it, so I am just continuing it. Would that be a problem doc??"

Examination of this dog revealed that it was obviously suffering from side effect of indiscriminate long term use of steroids. It developed hard plaques on the skin, medically termed as calcinosis cutis, which form as a result of calcium deposition in the skin. It developed obesity due to increased hunger caused by excessive steroids. It had a poor and thin skin coat. All because of indiscriminate steroid use.

Apart from the problems which this dog was suffering from, long term effects of steroids may cause:

• Latent urinary tract infections. The patient will not have the usual symptoms of urinary infection as the steroid will suppress the inflammation associated with the infection. Urine culture may be the only way to detect the infection. 
• Development of thin skin and blackheads
• Poor wound healing or poor growth of  hair 
• Development of obesity and muscle weakness
• Due to weakening of immune system, predisposition to infection of any kind,
• Development of Cushing's syndrome.

             Think twice before you self medicate your pet