Inappropriate urination after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 55 reports of inappropriate urination in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 2.0% 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.

55Reports

84%Marked serious

20%Recovered

29%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 42%

1–2 days

5 10%

3–7 days

4 8.3%

1–4 weeks

5 10%

Over a month

14 29%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 20%

Still unwell when reported

20 36%

Died

6 11%

Euthanised

10 18%

Not known

8 15%

Problems reported at the same time

21 38%

18 33%

17 31%

16 29%

15 27%

13 24%

13 24%

13 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 inappropriate urination in dogs?: 55 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).

Inappropriate urination with similar medicines

Inappropriate urination after Prednisone 171 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Inappropriate urination after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 26 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Inappropriate urination after Prednisolone 22 reports · 1.8% of its reports

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