Steroids for Dogs
Overview of Stanozolol (Winstrol®) for Dogs
- Stanozolol, commonly known as Winstrol®, is primarily to improve appetite and increase strength and overall vitality in ailing animals like dogs .
- Stanozolol belongs to a class of drugs known as anabolic steroids. These drugs are related to testosterone.
- Anabolic steroids promote the buildup of body tissues and increase the production of red blood cells.
- Due to the potential for abuse, stanozolol is a controlled substance.
- Stanozolol is a prescription drug and can only be obtained from a veterinarian or by prescription from a veterinarian.
Brand Names or Other Names of Stanozolol
- This drug is registered for use in humans and animals.
- Human formulations: Winstrol® (Winthrop)
- Veterinary formulations: Winstrol-V® (Upjohn)
Uses of Stanozolol for Dogs
- The use of stanozolol, as listed by the manufacturer, is primarily to improve appetite and increase strength and overall vitality in ailing animals.
- Some reports suggest that Stanozolol may be useful in the treatment of tracheal collapse in dogs.
- The drug has also been used to help treat anemia associated chronic disease
Precautions and Side Effects
- While generally safe and effective when prescribed by a veterinarian, stanozolol may cause unwanted side effects in some animals.
- Stanozolol should not be used in animals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug.
- The drug should also be avoided in pregnant animals since its use can cause masculinization of the undeveloped fetuses.
- Stanozolol should be used with caution in animals with heart, liver or kidney disease.
- Stanozolol may interact with other medications. Consult with your veterinarian to determine if other drugs your pet is receiving could interact with stanozolol. Such drugs include insulin, warfarin, and other steroids.
- Prolonged use of stanozolol has been associated with liver damage as well as behavioral changes.
How Stanozolol is Supplied
Stanozolol is available as 2 mg tablets.
The drug is also available in injectable form at a concentration of 50 mg/ml (10 ml and 30 ml vials).
Dosing Information Stanozolol for Dogs
Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian.
For small dogs , stanozolol is dosed at 1 to 2 mg per animal twice daily, or 25 mg of the injectable form given intramuscularly once weekly.
For larger dogs, the dose is 2 to 4 mg per animal twice daily or 50 mg of the injectable form given intramuscularly once weekly.
For the treatment of tracheal collapse, the dose used in dogs is 0.075 mg per pound (0.15 mg/kg) orally every 12 hours for 2 months then gradually tapered for 2 weeks.
The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to the medication, and the development of any adverse effects. Be certain to complete the prescription unless specifically directed otherwise by your veterinarian. Even if your pet appears better, the entire treatment plan should be completed. Treatment with stanozolol may need to be continued for several weeks.
Steroid Use for Dogs in Racing
In the United States, female racing greyhounds are routinely given anabolic steroids like testosterone or synthetic versions of testosterone to disrupt the natural “heat” cycle. This common industry practice serves to prevent the loss of race days. According to Care of the Racing & Retired Greyhound, trainers “should note that the full estrus cycle … from start to finish lasts 15 weeks … and, of this time, the bitch can race or trial only for the second 3-week stage.”1 To avoid this down time, the use of steroids in female racing greyhounds has become very common within dogs used for racing.
Anabolic steroid use – and in many cases specifically testosterone – has come under fire in other countries. In 2007, the Irish Greyhound Board banned anabolic steroid use in male greyhounds, and later in 2014, it banned all anabolic steroid use in female greyhounds as well. Additionally, in a review of IGB’s prohibited drugs policy, the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation commented that “[t]hey considered anabolic steroid use completely unacceptable, abuse and a welfare issue.” In 2010, the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Review Board evaluated Great Britain’s medication and drug policies for racing greyhounds.
On the use of testosterone to suppress a dog’s “heat,” the Review Board wrote, “We can see no justification, on ethical or welfare grounds, for the use of an androgenic (‘masculinising’) drug in a racing bitch and urge that the use of testosterone be prohibited as soon as possible.” Currently, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain no longer includes testosterone on its “List of Permitted Treatments.” Greyhounds Australasia, which makes racing rules and recommendations to Australian states and territories, as well as New Zealand, considers testosterone “a ‘prohibited substance’ as defined by the National Racing rules.” 20 Taking this ban one step further, the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association has prohibited “[a]ll forms of steroids” and established penalties for greyhound test positives which include a one-year disqualification and/or fine of $6,000.