Drooling after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 167 reports of drooling in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 6.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

167Reports

81%Marked serious

16%Recovered

31%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

78 55%

1–2 days

17 12%

3–7 days

10 7.0%

1–4 weeks

15 11%

Over a month

22 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

27 16%

Still unwell when reported

76 46%

Died

23 14%

Euthanised

28 17%

Not known

13 7.8%

Problems reported at the same time

83 50%

64 38%

55 33%

52 31%

51 31%

46 28%

38 23%

37 22%

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 drooling in dogs?: 167 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 the same day 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).

Drooling with similar medicines

Drooling after Prednisone 224 reports · 2.5% of its reports
Drooling after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 24 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Drooling after Prednisolone 34 reports · 2.8% of its reports

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