Increased percentage reticulocytes after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 40 reports of increased percentage reticulocytes in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 1.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

40Reports

93%Marked serious

10%Recovered

45%Died or euthanised

17 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 11%

1–2 days

3 8.1%

3–7 days

6 16%

1–4 weeks

10 27%

Over a month

14 38%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 10%

Still unwell when reported

13 33%

Died

11 28%

Euthanised

7 18%

Not known

5 13%

Problems reported at the same time

23 57%

23 57%

23 57%

21 53%

19 48%

18 45%

18 45%

17 43%

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 increased percentage reticulocytes in dogs?: 40 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 17 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).

Increased percentage reticulocytes with similar medicines

Increased percentage reticulocytes after Prednisone 76 reports · 0.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in dogs · Medicines most reported with increased percentage reticulocytes