Comparison of polydipsia and polyuria in dogs treated with once-daily or divided twice-daily oral prednisolone in 12 dogs.

Once-daily prednisolone dosing reduces polydipsia compared to divided-daily administration.

This randomized crossover trial evaluated 12 client-owned dogs receiving oral prednisolone (≥1.5 mg/kg daily) to compare the effects of once-daily versus divided twice-daily dosing on polydipsia and polyuria. Dogs were treated with each regimen for 14 days with a crossover design. Water intake, urine specific gravity, and urine osmolality were measured at baseline and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Nine dogs developed polydipsia and six showed diluted urine, with no significant difference between dosing regimens overall. However, dogs receiving once-daily prednisolone demonstrated significantly lower water intake on day 14 compared to divided-daily recipients. Median urine specific gravity and osmolality values were comparable between groups, and a strong positive correlation existed between these two parameters. The findings suggest once-daily prednisolone administration may be preferable in clinical practice to minimize excessive water consumption while maintaining comparable urine concentration parameters. Urine specific gravity and osmolality proved interchangeable for assessing urine concentration status.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.