Pale mucous membrane after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 285 reports of pale mucous membrane in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 10% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

285Reports

94%Marked serious

22%Recovered

33%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

176 66%

1–2 days

13 4.9%

3–7 days

21 7.9%

1–4 weeks

23 8.6%

Over a month

34 13%

How the animals did

Recovered

63 22%

Still unwell when reported

110 39%

Died

45 16%

Euthanised

50 18%

Not known

17 6.0%

Problems reported at the same time

183 64%

169 59%

130 46%

98 34%

95 33%

86 30%

84 29%

81 28%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

120

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 pale mucous membrane in dogs?: 285 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).

Pale mucous membrane with similar medicines

Pale mucous membrane after Prednisone 206 reports · 2.3% of its reports
Pale mucous membrane after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 32 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Pale mucous membrane after Prednisolone 40 reports · 3.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in dogs · Medicines most reported with pale mucous membrane