What is the anti-inflammatory dose of prednisone in dogs?

• A. 0.1-0.3 mg/kg
• B. 0.5-1 mg/kg
• C. 2-3 mg/kg
• D. 4-6 mg/kg

Answer: (B)

For dogs, the anti-inflammatory effect of prednisone is achieved with a dose of about 0.5 to 1 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. This range is enough to dampen inflammatory processes—by reducing the production of inflammatory mediators and decreasing leukocyte activity—without pushing into strong immunosuppression. In practice, clinicians often start within this range and then taper to the lowest dose that controls signs to minimize long-term side effects like increased thirst and urination, appetite changes, and potential gastrointestinal or metabolic issues.

Lower doses, such as 0.1–0.3 mg/kg, are generally too low to produce reliable anti-inflammatory effects and are more aligned with physiologic replacement. Higher ranges, like 2–3 mg/kg or 4–6 mg/kg, are reserved for immunosuppressive purposes or more severe conditions and carry greater risk, so they’re not the standard anti-inflammatory dose.