Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Feline Immune Disease Management

Managing feline immune-mediated diseases requires balancing immunosuppression efficacy against side effects - careful monitoring maintains welfare.

Key Facts

Prednisolone side effects include PU/PD, weight gain, skin fragility, and diabetes induction
Steroid-sparing agents (chlorambucil, cyclosporine) reduce prednisolone dose and side effects
Regular monitoring of glucose, blood pressure, and body condition guides dose adjustment
Transition to lowest effective dose that maintains remission reduces long-term side effects
Immunosuppression increases infection susceptibility requiring vigilance for secondary disease

Welfare Considerations

Long-term immunosuppression management requires careful monitoring to maintain the welfare benefit of disease control while minimising the welfare cost of treatment side effects. The goal is the lowest effective dose that maintains quality of life.

What You Can Do

Monitor cats on long-term prednisolone for side effects at every check
Discuss steroid-sparing alternatives to reduce prednisolone dose in stable cats
Maintain regular veterinary monitoring for secondary infections in immunosuppressed cats