Overdose after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 22 reports of overdose in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

22Reports

73%Marked serious

27%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

9 60%

1–2 days

1 6.7%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

2 13%

Over a month

3 20%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 27%

Still unwell when reported

9 41%

Died

2 9.1%

Euthanised

2 9.1%

Not known

3 14%

Problems reported at the same time

14 64%

8 36%

6 27%

5 23%

4 18%

4 18%

Didn't work as expected

4 18%

Accidental exposure

3 14%

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 overdose in dogs?: 22 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).

Overdose with similar medicines

Overdose after Prednisone 95 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Overdose after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 22 reports · 1.1% of its reports

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