steroids for dogs

If it's been a week and he's still having problems as serious as swelled up eyes GO TO THE VET!!!!  Don't mess around with something as important as your dog's sight and well being.

I agree that this dog needs to be seen again.  Vet visit ASAP!  Trying a home remedy of any kind at this point could be gambling with your dog's life.  You need a diagnosis.  Good luck and keep us posted. 

Ya I know and I probably will but they don't open for another hour and I just wanted an answer now.  :)  The staff desk said he probably just needs steroids granted I know she is not a doctor.  Unfortunately our vet clinic has a rebutation of over charging and such and if its just steroids and time that we need, I hate to go through all the extra tests of upwards of $500.  BTW, his site AT THIS TIME doesn't seem effected at all and his activity/appetite are normal.    I'll try to figure out how to send a picture. 

I've been given steriods for my dogs before and it's never been close to $500.  Kenya's shots were $19 and Coke's pills were...I dunno maybe ten bucks?

OMG - you can tell this has stressed me out...my spelling is terrible.  I figured out how to upload pics on my user name if anyone wants to see but these were taken yesterday.  This morning it has spread more evenly across the upper and lower lids. 

Liesje thanks for the idea about prices.  Our vet on the first visit literally quoted $500 for all the cornea, dye tests, etc. he wanted to do and wanted to keep him for a few hours or something.  Just looking at options.  THANKS ALL for your help. 

The problem is this may not be JUST simply an allergic reaction -- being exposed to that type of chemical can cause all sorts of toxic reactions (including stuff really deadly like IMHA, cytopenia, and other auto-immune diseases). 

Let the vet do what he needs to do -- and if you don't like this vet, then find another that is more reasonable, but symptoms like this are severe PARTICULARLY for something that is days old.

And btw -- steroids aren't expensive, but using them *wrongly* can be fatal -- so honestly you're not just paying for a few pills but for the knowledge and expertise that go along with them -- so if the vet asks to do some bloodwork, etc. LET THEM.

I understand your frustration -- but just by way of comparison, call your local hospital and find out what the bill would be for a human experiencing the same problems.  It can be staggering.

I have to echo what Callie said. Steroids are dirt cheap. My dog is on 30mg a day and a 30 day supply cost ~$20. But using them without a vet's approval or with the correct dosing can be fatal.

I agree they are not expensive. My 80lb dog costs me $23/month. But I think what you were referring to were the tests that would have to be done.  They have to check the liver and blood and a number of things. $500 sounds about right.  Could you take him in to make sure he is not in any immediate danger and ask the Dr to go over all the tests and what they cost. Get a diagnosis before you consent to any tests. Then take it from there.

So, yesterday I took our dog to the vet for a 2nd time - it was day 6 or 7 since the yard spray.  He gave a steroid shot & eye drops to go home with - total was $73.25.  The drops alone were like $50 but he didn't do any tests.  Before we went, I had called a couple other vets and the one hospital in town but in the end I went with what I was familiar with & they did waive the office visit this time.  The receptionist/nurse even gave me her BB number so that's really nice.  His eyes seem a little better but still bad.  What pet insurance do people have?  I'm not sure if he'll have any long term health problems now...I'm so worried.    

I also tried calling & emailing the company to get more info.  I couldn't even get a live person or decent email reply aside from to call their 800# again.  The Product Facts say it may be hazdarsous when wet and to let it dry...which we did so he never had any direct contact with it.  My question to them is since our dog had a severe reaction just from indirect exposure...does that mean that every time our sprinklers go off or it rains...he is re-exposed?  How long will this last?  I did find a chart on a .gov site about the main ingredient of the yard spray & the side effects it has.  On a scale of 1-4 with 1 being the worse, it's a 2.  Sort of ticks me off there wasn't some BIG warning on it.  It does say may be hazardous to humans, domestic animals, fish, etc. when wet but that's about it.  On the chart below, I'm wondering what does "corneal involvement" mean...is it actual damage or just discomfort - theres a big difference.  The vet said maybe because he is 1 yrs old so the immune system is not fully developed or any combination of other things that triggered it in him.  I'm not sure what else to do now except wait to see how he responds to the meds and steroids.  Has anyone else had anything similar and how long does it take - was there any permanent damage caused - is the chart below about right...21 days. 

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE HELP!!!!      

I would think that every time it's wet it may be a problem again -- but I would hound the company and do whatever you have to do in order to get answers.

"involvement" is a glittering generality - it's literally NOT saying damage or discomfort -- they are hedging their bets. 

You realize that Eurythmia is irregular heart beat -- that's a far cry from Edema (swelling)  Both are disturbing side effects.  MAKE SURE the vet checks the heart.

This dog is SO set up for auto-immune disease it's not funny -- be ULTRA careful.  The steroids are the very first step, and be aware that it will suppress the immune system *further* (because that's part of what steroids do).  So honestly -- no dog parks, no stuff like that at all for a couple of months.

I understand money is a concern, but please watch this dog carefully -- watch the gum color, if the dog begins to act **at all** lethargic or in any way out of the ordinary, get to the vet.   This kind of chemical toxicity can trigger IMHA and such stuff SO fast. 

THANK YOU and here's an update: Day 10 or 11 - eyes still swollen/bleeding & his muzzle has bumps/swollen now.  I spent hours and hours but finally got to talk to the yard spray company & given a case#, and worked with their medical department who worked with our Vet and the national animal poison control.  They have several human allergy/poison cases but not many domestic animals, if any.  His symptoms are almost identical though.  The concentration levels in the yard must still be present because he was getting a little better after the steroid shots, drops, antibiotics, bath, & limited use of back yard until day 8 he was in the back yard for 3 hours and everything flared up to the point of bleeding.  The Vet called this morning after talking with the company and poison control so the new course of treatment will be steroid pills and vitamin E oil, warm packs, antibiotics, and double-up on the bendryl.  The sprinklers probably re-activated it at least to high enough levels to affect him so now we are running them daily to try and flush it out of the soil.  The company denies it re-activates but the Vet said probably and I think the animal poison did too.  The Vet said it may be 3 weeks before toxic/allergen concentration levels no longer harmful to him.  BTW, this was just an over-the-counter spray and its only warning was to avoid swallowing it.  The company says its not toxic after the initial application and thinks he had an allergic reaction but it still ticks me off that their warning label was so piss poor - especially what symptoms to look for and/or what to do about it.  The "directions" just say to not allow children or pets into treated area until dry.  On the back the "precautionary statements" are that its hazardous to humans and domestic animals but that statement is just before it gives a "firstaid" caution about swalling it.  Then its 2nd warning is about an "environmental hazard" that says its extremely toxic to fish.  Do not contaminate water disposing of equipment washwaters.  Do not apply directly to water.  Drift and runoff treated areas may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in neighboring areas.  This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or weeds.  Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area.  Interesting how that much of a warning label talks about water yet the company says its not re-activated with sprinklers or rain - hhhmmm.....very frustrating!  Had we known what possible reactions there could be - especially if involving the eyesight - we would have never used it.  It's been a lot of money and heartache and we are only 1/2 way through this.     

 Pennsylvania Vet Hospital

The Regional Veterinary Emergency Service is a veterinary care center established to provide complete after hours care for sick and injured pets (currently, just dogs and cats). Our veterinary staff is trained to provide prompt continuous care to patients with critical illness or injuries. We provide a wide range of emergency and referral medical and surgical services.