Prednisone Treatment for Low Glucose on a 3 1/2lb Chihauhau

Question
Could you please tell me if using Prednisone is capable of seriouly harming my 10 year old male Chihauhau? He went into emergency late one evening because he became very lethargic. He was diagnosed as having a critically low level of glucose.  After being in both emergency care and then his regular vet he came home being prescribed 1.25mg of Prednisone 2 times a day. (that was on October 17,05)His weight is going off the scale for his extreamly small frame (at least I think so). His current vet told me not to bother coming back for a month for a check-up. Can you tell me is there something better you feel a small dog of this size should be at least tested on before allowing this medication to make Rudy so obesse that his heart or other organs give out? Thank you from Rudy and myself in advance for any information you can supply us.

Answer
Unless he has a confirmed Insulinoma tumor in his pancreas, I would not treat a one-time occurence of low blood sugar with prednisone.  I normally recommend frequent small meals and you can supplement with Nutrical or add honey to his drinking water.  If he is stable and having side effects of the prednisone, I would recommend trying to WEAN him off.  Certainly obesity can lead to diabetes, heart and joint problems not to mention the other side effects of prednisone are not desirable.   I would try giving him the prednisone ONCE a day for one week and start with the smaller meals.   If he is acting normally after a week, I would try to give him the prednisone every OTHER day for 2 weeks.  Again, if he does not have any episodes of low sugar, you can try to either stop the pred or lower it further to every third or fourth day.
GOOD LUCK!