Accepted Answer

Hello Chuck,
Yes, Prednisone is a corticosteroid. A very commonly prescribed one. So, that is good that your pet is on a steroid for the condition.

As a side note, prednisone can be a bit hard on the stomach, so giving an antacid to help the stomach would also be a very good idea. I am a huge fan of Pepcid A.C., that you can buy right over the counter. The dose for a small dog, would be a 1/4 tablet of the 10mg tablets. It comes in 10mg or 20mg. You can give twice a day as well.

Here is some more information about the condition I believe you are treating:
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/masticatory-muscle-myositis/page1.aspx

P.S. It is not a very common condition, especially for the breed. If I were you, I would request a referral to an internal medicine specialist for sure.
If the vet delays, you can contact one yourself using this link:

http://www.acvim.org/websites/acvim/index.php?p=3

Good Luck
Dr. Andy

Expert:	DrAndy
Pos. Feedback:	99.8 %
Accepts:
Answered:	8/3/2009

Veterinarian

UC Davis graduate, Canine and Feline emphasis, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics