Loose stool after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 66 reports of loose stool in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 2.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.9% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

66Reports

68%Marked serious

14%Recovered

23%Died or euthanised

6 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 34%

1–2 days

6 10%

3–7 days

6 10%

1–4 weeks

8 14%

Over a month

19 32%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 14%

Still unwell when reported

27 41%

Died

4 6.1%

Euthanised

11 17%

Not known

15 23%

Problems reported at the same time

40 61%

37 56%

34 52%

27 41%

21 32%

18 27%

17 26%

16 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 loose stool in dogs?: 66 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 6 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).

Loose stool with similar medicines

Loose stool after Prednisone 149 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Loose stool after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 29 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Loose stool after Prednisolone 20 reports · 1.7% of its reports

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