Answer

The reason that she likely has not felt better yet, is because she had not really been treated for the fleas. Now that she has the Frontline on, this is going to help her to get better. The Clavamox is an antibiotic, and the vet has prescribed this to help clear up any secondary bacterial infection that she now has in her skin due to the constant flea irritation and scratching that she is doing.

Prednisone is not unsafe when given for short periods of time. There are virtually no real dangerous side effects if you only give prednisone for a few days. If your vet gave you some prednisone, it is likely because of the severe irritation that your dog is experiencing. I do recommend that you give the pred. Your dog will feel so much better if you do, and will help her to feel well while the Frontline begins doing its job. I am assuming the pred that your vet gave you was for a short period of time.

There really is no OTC medication that I can recommend that is going to reduce your dog's discomfort, like the prednisone will. If she were my dog, I definitely would use the prednisone (and I am definitely NOT a vet that prescribes prednisone frequently).

I hope that this helps you out, and that your dog feels better soon,

Dr. K