Pet Drug Reports

Ingredients

Active ingredient · pooled across combinations

Prednisolone Acetate: adverse event reports, pooled

4 ingredient sets in reports · 7 FDA-approved applications in the Green Book

340reports naming the ingredient, 2011–20260% of all reports · about 23 a year
18reports, 12 months to March 202617 in the 12 months before
49.1%classed serious, as reportedall reports: 38.6%
91.8%of reports concern dogscat 6.2%

Prednisolone Acetate appears, alone or combined with other ingredients, in 340 reports in FDA's animal adverse event database (April 2011 to March 2026). The figures here pool all 4 ingredient sets that include it.

The Green Book lists 7 FDA-approved applications containing it. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in adverse event records, so the reports counted here cannot be attributed to a particular brand.

18 reports arrived in the 12 months to March 2026, close to the 17 of the 12 months before. FDA posts reports quarterly with a delay of three to six months, so the newest months are incomplete and usually grow in later releases. That is about 23 reports a year over its reporting history and 0% of all reports.

Pooled across every set, the terms listed most often are deafness (20.9%), loss of hearing (13.8%) and lethargy (9.7%). Many drugs combine several ingredients, and many reports list several drugs, so a term on this page may relate to any of them or to none.

Of reports that state seriousness, 49.1% were classed as serious (38.6% across the whole database); 6.2% record a death or euthanasia (6.4% overall). Ingredients used in older or sicker animals, or in anaesthesia and cancer care, carry higher shares for that reason alone.

Ingredient sets that include prednisolone acetate

Active ingredients recorded for the drugReportsShare of this page's reportsLatest 12 months
Miconazole Nitrate + Polymyxin B Sulfate + Prednisolone Acetate25474.7%8
Prednisolone Acetate5917.4%9
Miconazole Nitrate + Prednisolone Acetate267.6%1
Polymyxin B Sulfate + Prednisolone Acetate10.3%0

Ordered by report count. FDA states that these data "cannot be used to estimate the risk associated with the product or compare one drug or device product with another"; counts follow sales volume and years on the market. A report can list more than one set, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Signs listed in reports, pooled

share of prednisolone acetate reports listing the termall reports in the database

  1. Deafness20.9%71
  2. Lethargy[unusually tired or inactive]9.7%33
  3. Lack of efficacy - NOS[the product did not have the expected effect]7.6%26
  4. Diarrhoea[diarrhea]7.1%24
  5. Vomiting6.5%22
  6. Behavioural disorder NOS[behaviour change, type not specified]5.9%20
  7. Emesis[vomiting]5.3%18
  8. Ear infection NOS[NOS: not otherwise specified]3.5%12
  9. Other abnormal test result NOS[abnormal laboratory result, type not specified]3.5%12
  10. Polydipsia[drinking more than usual]3.5%12
  11. Anorexia[not eating]2.9%10
  12. Death by euthanasia[the animal was euthanized]2.9%10
  13. Other ear disorder NOS[NOS: not otherwise specified]2.9%10
  14. Panting2.9%10
  15. Vocalisation[crying out or unusual noise]2.9%10
  16. Inappetence[reduced appetite]2.6%9
  17. Death2.4%8
  18. Pruritus[itching]2.4%8
  19. Accidental exposure[exposure that was not intended]2.1%7
  20. Anxiety2.1%7

Pooled across every ingredient set and every report that names the ingredient. One report can list several terms and several drugs; a term here may relate to any of them or to none.

Monthly reports by species, five years

Dog45 · peak 3
Apr 2021: 2May 2021: 1Aug 2021: 1Dec 2021: 1May 2022: 1Aug 2022: 1Apr 2023: 2May 2023: 1Jun 2023: 1Oct 2023: 1Nov 2023: 1Dec 2023: 1Jan 2024: 1Apr 2024: 2May 2024: 1Jun 2024: 1Jul 2024: 1Aug 2024: 3Sep 2024: 2Oct 2024: 1Dec 2024: 1Jan 2025: 1Feb 2025: 3Mar 2025: 1Apr 2025: 3May 2025: 1Jul 2025: 2Sep 2025: 1Oct 2025: 2Nov 2025: 2Feb 2026: 22022202320242025
Cat6 · peak 1
Jan 2024: 1Mar 2024: 1May 2025: 1Jul 2025: 1Nov 2025: 1Mar 2026: 12022202320242025
Horse0 · peak 1
2022202320242025
Other1 · peak 1
Jun 2025: 12022202320242025

By month of receipt; each panel has its own scale. The newest months are incomplete because FDA posts reports with a delay of three to six months.

0521042011: 2020112012: 2320122013: 1920132014: 8020142015: 10420152016: 1220162017: 520172018: 620182019: 420192020: 1220202021: 820212022: 220222023: 720232024: 1520242025: 2020252026: 32026

Outcomes, report types and ages

Outcome recorded in the report

Recovered/Normal31.2%106
Recovered with Sequela17.6%60
Ongoing12.6%43
Died2.6%9
Euthanized3.5%12
Outcome Unknown31.5%107

What kind of report it was

Safety issue91.8%312
Lack of expected effectiveness3.5%12
Both safety and lack of expected effectiveness2.6%9
Manufacturing or product defect2.1%7
Other0%0

Species

Dog91.8%312
Cat6.2%21
Human exposure0.9%3
Rabbit0.3%1
Rat0.3%1

Age of the animal

Under 1 year3.5%12
1 to 3 years12.4%42
4 to 7 years18.5%63
8 to 11 years37.6%128
12 years and over22.6%77
Age not given5.3%18

Coloured bar: reports naming prednisolone acetate. Grey bar: all 1,357,245 reports. Outcomes are as stated by the reporter; FDA has not necessarily determined whether any product played a part.

In context

MeasurePrednisolone AcetateAll reports
Reports3401,357,245
Latest 12 months against the 12 before+6%-5%
Classed serious, of reports stating it49.1%38.6%
Death or euthanasia recorded, per 1,000 reports61.863.8
Filed as lack of expected effectiveness (wholly or partly)6.2%23%

Shares of reports, not of animals treated: how many animals receive the ingredient is not public. Ingredients used in anaesthesia, cancer care or in old animals carry more serious outcomes in their reports for that reason alone.

FDA-approved products containing prednisolone acetate (Green Book)

Reference information, not report statistics. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in adverse event records, so the reports counted here cannot be attributed to a particular brand. The list below is the FDA Green Book as of 1 Oct 2026; nothing on this page says which of these products, if any, a report concerned.

Trade nameActive ingredientsSponsorApproved forApplication
Meticortelone AcetatePrednisolone AcetateIntervet, Inc.Dogs, Cats, HorsesNADA 010-312
Neo-Delta-Cortef with Tetracaine OintmentNeomycin Sulfate, Prednisolone Acetate, Tetracaine HydrochlorideZoetis Inc.Dogs, CatsNADA 011-703
Neo-Delta Cortef Sterile SolutionNeomycin Sulfate, Prednisolone AcetateZoetis Inc.Dogs, CatsNADA 091-534
SurolanMiconazole Nitrate, Polymyxin B Sulfate, Prednisolone AcetateElanco US Inc.DogsNADA 141-298
Prednisolone Aqueous Suspensionapproval voluntarily withdrawnPrednisolone AcetateAkorn, Inc.—NADA 012-444
Optisoneapproval voluntarily withdrawnNeomycin Sulfate, Prednisolone AcetateEvsco Pharmaceuticals, An Affiliate of IGI, Inc.Dogs, CatsNADA 045-288
Chlorasone Ophthalmic Ointmentapproval voluntarily withdrawnChloramphenicol, Prednisolone AcetateEvsco Pharmaceuticals, An Affiliate of IGI, Inc.Dogs, CatsNADA 065-259

Species are the major species the Green Book search lists for the application ("—" where it lists another species or none). Approval dates are not part of the Green Book listing files and are not shown. Pioneer applications (NADA) come first, then generics (ANADA).

Questions about prednisolone acetate reports

How many FDA adverse event reports mention prednisolone acetate?

340 reports through March 2026, 18 of them in the latest 12 months, counting prednisolone acetate alone and in combinations.

Which brands do these reports concern?

That cannot be known from the public data. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in adverse event records, so the reports counted here cannot be attributed to a particular brand. The Green Book reference list on this page names approved products containing prednisolone acetate without any counts.

In which combinations is prednisolone acetate reported?

Miconazole Nitrate + Polymyxin B Sulfate + Prednisolone Acetate (74.7% of these reports), Prednisolone Acetate (17.4% of these reports), Miconazole Nitrate + Prednisolone Acetate (7.6% of these reports) and Polymyxin B Sulfate + Prednisolone Acetate (0.3% of these reports).

What reactions are reported for prednisolone acetate?

deafness (20.9%), loss of hearing (13.8%), lethargy (9.7%), lack of efficacy - NOS (7.6%) and diarrhoea (7.1%). Shares are of reports naming the ingredient; one report can list several terms.

Which animals are these reports about?

dog (91.8%), cat (6.2%) and human exposure (0.9%).

Does a high count mean prednisolone acetate is a problem ingredient?

A count cannot show that. FDA states that "there is no certainty that the reported drug or device caused the adverse event" and that the event "may have been related to an underlying disease, other drugs used at the same time or other non-drug related sources." Widely used ingredients collect more reports because more animals receive them.

How do I report a problem?

Call the drug company using the number on the label, or send Form FDA 1932a to FDA. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Animal & Veterinary adverse event bulk files released 28 Sep 2026, which hold reports FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine received through 31 Mar 2026. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in these files, so drugs are counted by the active ingredients each record discloses and no figure is attributed to a brand, application or company. Ingredient names, and the separate reference lists of approved products, follow the FDA Green Book as of 1 Oct 2026. Ingredient names follow the Green Book; salts and forms are kept as FDA lists them. Drug entries are matched by the active ingredients their unmasked ingredient field discloses. No report text, lot numbers or reporter details are published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.