Malaise after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 37 reports of malaise in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 1.4% 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.

37Reports

70%Marked serious

8.1%Recovered

30%Died or euthanised

23 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 30%

1–2 days

1 3.7%

3–7 days

2 7.4%

1–4 weeks

3 11%

Over a month

13 48%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 8.1%

Still unwell when reported

15 41%

Died

5 14%

Euthanised

6 16%

Not known

8 22%

Problems reported at the same time

22 59%

18 49%

16 43%

13 35%

11 30%

11 30%

10 27%

8 22%

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 malaise in dogs?: 37 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 23 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).

Malaise with similar medicines

Malaise after Prednisone 116 reports · 1.3% of its reports

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