Hypoglycaemia after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 44 reports of hypoglycaemia in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 1.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

44Reports

89%Marked serious

9.1%Recovered

68%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 56%

1–2 days

6 15%

3–7 days

4 9.8%

1–4 weeks

2 4.9%

Over a month

6 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 9.1%

Still unwell when reported

7 16%

Died

19 43%

Euthanised

11 25%

Not known

3 6.8%

Problems reported at the same time

30 68%

26 59%

25 57%

24 55%

22 50%

20 45%

17 39%

16 36%

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 hypoglycaemia in dogs?: 44 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).

Hypoglycaemia with similar medicines

Hypoglycaemia after Prednisone 60 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Prednisolone 20 reports · 1.7% of its reports

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