Steroid Medications

• There are two types of steroids; anti-inflammatory and anabolic. Dog steroid medications use anti-inflammatory steroids. Canine illnesses these steroid medications treat include brain swelling and intestinal inflammation.
  
  

Triggering Depression

• A possible side effect of steroid medications is mood changes. Mood changes can trigger dog depression.
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms of dog depression include a lack of appetite, no interest in playing with other dogs or humans, abnormal activity, increased shedding, and aggressiveness.
  
  

Treatment

• You should ask your veterinarian about alternatives to steroid medications if the drugs are causing dog depression. If there are no alternatives, anti-depressants (like Valium) can be used to treat the dog depression.
  
  

Other Secondary Conditions

• In addition to dog depression, steroid medications can cause secondary canine illnesses like Addison's disease and diabetes mellitus.