My 11 1/2 year old male GSD suffered a vestibular attack at the end of September 2013.  I thought it was a stroke and was delighted when my vet diagnosed a vestibular attack. On examination it was found he had bacteria and yeast in both ears (he loves to swim) and was prescribed Surolan ear drops which I now realise contain prednisolone.  Since then, my boy has been drinking more and the amount of urine he produces is huge. Not since he was a pup has he needed to wee during the night but now we are doing a toilet break during every night and that's always after his evening walk between 9pm and 10pm and the wees are big and dilute. Could his adrenal glands have been compromised?
I have been managing the situation with more toilet breaks but plan to make an appointment with the vet in case it could be a kidney or liver problem or even something else.  He is in good form and I feel in good condition.
Has anyone else experienced this and if it was the prednisolone will his water intake and urine output go back to normal?

Many Thanks

Prednisilone is a steroid, and one of the known side-effects (it doesn't always happen) of steroids is increased appetite or drinking, with the result you've found. In my experience the increased thirst and subsequent urination does indeed go back to normal once the medication has stopped.

I forgot to mention that the ear drops did clear the bacteria and yeast and I stopped using them back in October, during the recovery phase of the vestibular attack.

I have used surolan ear drops on my doberman when she was a pup and had a yeast infection and didnt notice any changes in drinking or urinating. However since mid October she has been on high steroid doses to surpress her immune system. The incredible amount of drinking and urinating started straight away and over the past 3 months, her dose has been decreasing. She is now on 25mgs daily and is returning to normal drinking. I doubt your dog would still be suffering the effects of the steroid now and would have a vet take a look for other causes. Perhaps diabetes?

I agree with Kate H and would be looking for a different cause.  I too have had a dog on oral steroids and seen the difference it makes to urination but despite having used Surolan ear drops many times it has never affected him in the same way.

Thanks guys. 

Diabetes was another condition I had considered.

A vet appointment is the way forward.  I've always preferred to treat as naturally as possible and he has been mostly raw fed all his life so after the results of blood and urine tests it's off to see an holistic vet as well.  He's twelve years old in February and I hope to be able to keep him in the form he's in for as long as possible.