Tachycardia after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 131 reports of tachycardia in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 4.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

131Reports

94%Marked serious

15%Recovered

45%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

77 63%

1–2 days

13 11%

3–7 days

6 4.9%

1–4 weeks

4 3.3%

Over a month

22 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

20 15%

Still unwell when reported

44 34%

Died

34 26%

Euthanised

25 19%

Not known

8 6.1%

Problems reported at the same time

77 59%

64 49%

62 47%

59 45%

58 44%

54 41%

51 39%

43 33%

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 tachycardia in dogs?: 131 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).

Tachycardia with similar medicines

Tachycardia after Prednisone 111 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Tachycardia after Prednisolone 21 reports · 1.7% of its reports

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