Death after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 623 reports of death in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 23% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

623Reports

98%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

198 37%

1–2 days

84 15%

3–7 days

59 11%

1–4 weeks

85 16%

Over a month

116 21%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported

2 0.3%

Died

338 54%

Euthanised

283 45%

Problems reported at the same time

244 39%

242 39%

241 39%

193 31%

186 30%

172 28%

144 23%

119 19%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

109

4–7 years

149

8–11 years

201

12+ years

101

About this medicine

Dexamethasone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

Steroids commonly cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, especially at higher doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Dexamethasone cause death in dogs?: 623 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 2 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Prednisone 1,116 reports · 12% of its reports
Death after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 168 reports · 8.0% of its reports
Death after Prednisolone 199 reports · 16% of its reports
Death after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 27 reports · 4.2% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in dogs · Medicines most reported with death