Dermatologic use of glucocorticoids. Systemic and topical.

In human medicine, about one-half of the prescriptions written by dermatologists is for glucocorticoids. Although such figures apparently are not available in veterinary medicine, certainly it would be safe to assume that the usage of glucocorticoids in dogs and cats at least paralles that in humans. In general, this is nothing to apologize for. Let's face it, where would we dermatologists (and our patients) be without "the silver bullet"! Strict attention to diagnosis and therapeutic adjuncts and alternatives, followed by careful adherence to all phases of appropriate glucocorticoid therapy, will usually result in the satisfactory management of many dermatoses.