Dehydration after Dexamethasone in dogs

116 reports to the FDA describe dehydration in dogs given Dexamethasone. That is 4.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

116Reports

82%Marked serious

12%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

32 32%

1–2 days

17 17%

3–7 days

9 9.0%

1–4 weeks

14 14%

Over a month

28 28%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 12%

Still unwell when reported

45 39%

Died

16 14%

Euthanised

30 26%

Not known

11 9.5%

Problems reported at the same time

76 66%

72 62%

69 59%

51 44%

45 39%

40 34%

34 29%

28 24%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

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 dehydration in dogs?: 116 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 3 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).

Dehydration with similar medicines

Dehydration after Prednisone 176 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Dehydration after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 24 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Dehydration after Prednisolone 31 reports · 2.6% of its reports

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