Why I Hate Steroids: The Hidden Dangers of Prednisone & Other Dog Steroids
Steroids are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in both human and veterinary medicine. Whether it’s allergies, inflammation, itchy skin, eye problems, autoimmune flare-ups, or chronic pain, steroids are often handed out as the first line of defense. Because they can provide fast relief, many people assume they’re safe.
They’re not. And the long-term consequences can be devastating.
Steroids carry well documented and serious side effects whether applied topically, taken internally or used in the eyes. Many pet parents and human patients never understand these risks until the damage has already occurred.
I learned this firsthand. Steroid eye drops prescribed during my rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic process caused a cataract that eventually required surgery. It was the first time I literally saw a drug cause a side effect. Most of the time, the harm occurs deep inside the body where we can’t see it, until it’s too late.
This article breaks down what steroids really do inside the body, why they’re overprescribed (especially in dogs), and how natural tools like full-spectrum hemp, medicinal mushrooms, and herbal adaptogens support inflammation, immunity, and resilience without the dangerous fallout of steroid use.
What Steroids Actually Do Inside the Body
(Prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone & others)
Steroids work by forcefully suppressing inflammatory signaling. They don’t address the root cause. They simply silence the body’s communication pathways.
Short-term: Quick symptom relief
Long-term: Predictable harm
Prolonged or repeated steroid use can:
- Suppress natural immunity
- Stress the liver and endocrine system
- Disrupt hormone balance
- Slow or block natural healing
- Damage delicate tissues
- Weaken the adrenal glands
Dogs, and many of our other pets, are especially vulnerable, their livers and adrenal systems are extremely sensitive to corticosteroids.
Side Effects of Steroids in Dogs (and Their Humans)
People often search for “prednisone side effects in dogs” because no one warned them. Here’s what the research, and thousands of pet parents, report.
Oral or Injectable Steroids for Dogs –prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone
Short term side effects of steroids for dogs
- Increased thirst and urination
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Panting in dogs
- Mood changes, agitation, anxiety, aggression
- Elevated blood pressure
- Elevated blood sugar
Side effects of long term or repeated use of steroids for dogs
- Cataracts and glaucoma
- Liver stress and elevated liver enzymes
- Immune suppression
- Slow wound healing
- Skin thinning and tissue breakdown
- Muscle wasting
- Bone loss and osteoporosis
- Adrenal gland suppression
- Hormone disruption
- Increased risk of infection
- Diabetes
- Gastrointestinal ulcers
- Pancreatitis in dogs
- Increased risk of Cushing’s disease in dogs
Topical Steroids for Dogs – hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, fluocinonide, mometasone
Marketed as “mild,” but easily absorbed in pets and people.
Documented risks of topical steroids for dogs
- Skin thinning
- Skin discoloration
- Delayed healing
- Increased risk of infection
- Hormone suppression
- Systemic absorption in dogs
- Adrenal suppression
- Behavioral changes
Your dog might also be regularly ingesting the dog topical steroid by licking treated areas.
Ophthalmic Steroids for Dogs – dexamethasone, prednisolone acetate, fluorometholone
These carry some of the highest risks due to rapid absorption.
Known risks of ophthalmic steroids for dogs
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Elevated eye pressure
- Corneal thinning
- Delayed healing
- Secondary infections
- Increased risk of blindness with repeated use
My cataract developed after approximately twenty uses within a year. Severe reactions to steroids in dogs do not require long term steroid use.
Why Steroids for Dogs Are Overprescribed
Steroid use in dogs can provide rapid symptom relief, and fast relief is appealing, especially as conventional medicine often follows a “symptom → drug → temporary relief → repeat” cycle.
In both human and veterinary settings, steroids for dogs are routinely prescribed for:
- Allergies
- Itching
- Ear irritation
- Hot spots
- Joint inflammation
- Eye injuries
- Autoimmune flare-ups
Often without investigating:
- Diet
- Environmental triggers
- Gut health
- Immune function
- Stress load
Suppressing symptoms without addressing root causes can worsen the underlying imbalance over time.
The immune system, endocrine system and inflammatory pathways are supposed to communicate. When this communication is disrupted, the body cannot correct the underlying imbalance. This often worsens the problem over time.
What Adaptogens for Dogs Do Instead
Adaptogens do not suppress symptoms. They support and regulate the communication systems inside the body. These include the endocannabinoid system, the immune system, the HPA axis, the neuroendocrine system and the body’s natural antioxidant defenses.
Instead of shutting down inflammation signals, adaptogens help the body resolve them. Most importantly, they do not carry the organ damage or immune suppression seen with steroid use in dogs.
Natural Alternatives to Steroids for Dogs
With so many potential side effects of steroids in dogs, it’s no surprise that pet parents are looking for safer, natural alternatives to prednisone for dogs and other dog steroids. Holistic veterinarians often turn to whole-plant and whole-fungi medicine because these options work with the body’s systems rather than overriding them.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract
Instead of forcing suppression, hemp supports regulation. Compounds in hemp support the ECS, which regulates:
- Inflammation
- Pain signaling
- Stress response
- Cellular repair
- Immune function
- Hormone balance
Medicinal Mushrooms
Whole functional mushrooms act as immunomodulators, they help balance immune activity rather than shutting it off.
Mushrooms with strong evidence include:
- Reishi for inflammation balance, stress support and adrenal function
- Turkey Tail for immune modulation, gut support and cellular recognition
- Lion’s Mane for nerve support, brain inflammation and gut brain signaling
- Maitake and Shiitake for T cell regulation and immune balance
Herbal Adaptogens
Herbs that support inflammation and endocrine balance naturally:
- Ashwagandha
- Holy Basil
- Rhodiola
- Nettle leaf
- Licorice root
- Calendula (for topical use)
These herbs calm inflammation while supporting the systems that steroids weaken.
Choosing Wisely: Natural Support vs. Long-Term Steroid Use in Dogs
Steroids may offer fast relief, but they come with a long list of potential consequences, especially with repeated or long-term steroid use in dogs. Understanding how these drugs actually work inside the body empowers you to make more informed decisions for your dog. When you look beyond symptom suppression and focus on diet, environment, immune balance, and natural adaptogens, you give your dog a chance to heal and thrive without the harmful trade-offs.
Head to my downloads page for my Steroids vs. Adaptogens Comparison Chart. It’s a simple guide you can reference if you’re weighing your options or discussing next steps with your veterinarian. Your dog deserves real healing, not just temporary relief with serious potential risks. And you deserve the knowledge to advocate for them every step of the way.
About Angela Ardolino
Angela Ardolino, a certified cannabis and fungi clinician, brings over 20 years of expertise to the field of holistic pet wellness. As a graduate of the inaugural Medical Cannabis for Therapeutic Use program at the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she is a passionate advocate for safe, natural, and ethically-grown whole plant and fungi medicine tailored for pets.
Committed to the highest standards, Angela continues to educate and inspire pet parents through her popular podcast, Your Natural Dog, where she hosts experts to discuss holistic pet care, natural remedies, nutrition, and training. Follow Angela Ardolino on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to stay updated on her mission to educate and empower pet parents everywhere.