Unable to walk after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 22 reports of unable to walk in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

22Reports

95%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

32%Died or euthanised

22 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 24%

1–2 days

2 9.5%

3–7 days

1 4.8%

1–4 weeks

3 14%

Over a month

10 48%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported

15 68%

Died

3 14%

Euthanised

4 18%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

10 45%

Death

7 32%

Weakness

7 32%

Knuckling

6 27%

Lethargy

5 23%

Liver problems

5 23%

Spondylosis

5 23%

Walking difficulty

5 23%

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 unable to walk 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 22 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).

Unable to walk with similar medicines

Unable to walk after Prednisone 70 reports · 0.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in dogs · Medicines most reported with unable to walk