Hyperglycaemia after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 92 reports of hyperglycaemia in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 3.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

92Reports

91%Marked serious

6.5%Recovered

43%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 33%

1–2 days

12 15%

3–7 days

10 13%

1–4 weeks

7 8.8%

Over a month

25 31%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 6.5%

Still unwell when reported

39 42%

Died

22 24%

Euthanised

18 20%

Not known

7 7.6%

Problems reported at the same time

55 60%

43 47%

42 46%

41 45%

39 42%

33 36%

31 34%

28 30%

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 hyperglycaemia in dogs?: 92 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 4 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).

Hyperglycaemia with similar medicines

Hyperglycaemia after Prednisone 143 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 32 reports · 1.5% of its reports

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