POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Dexa-ject 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Horses, Pigs, Dogs and Cats

Active ingredient: Dexamethasone

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Horses Pigs

Manufacturer

Dopharma Research B.V.

VMD MA No.

28365/5003

What it's used for

Horses, cattle, pigs, dogs and cats: Treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions. Cattle: Induction of parturition. Treatment of primary ketosis (acet...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Dexamethasone

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

Your prescription rights → VMD register of retailers →

Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Dexa-ject 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Horses, Pigs, Dogs and Cats — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 26 Mar 2026.

Horses, cattle, pigs, dogs and cats:
Treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions.
Cattle:
Induction of parturition.
Treatment of primary ketosis (acetonaemia).
Horses:
Treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis.

Except in emergency situations, do not use in animals suffering from diabetes mellitus,
renal insufficiency, cardiac insufficiency, hyperadrenocorticism or osteoporosis.
Do not use in viral infections during the viraemic stage or in cases of systemic mycotic
infections.

Revised: September 2023
AN: 00773/2022Page 2 of 7
Do not use in animals suffering from gastrointestinal or corneal ulcers, or demodicosis.
Do not administer intra-articularly where there is evidence of fractures, bacterial joint
infections and aseptic bone necrosis.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
See also section 4.7.

Cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats:
Undetermined frequency (cannot
be estimated from the available
data):
Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s
disease)
Polyuria
, polydipsia
, polyphagia
Sodium retention
, water retention
, hypokalaemia
Cutaneous calcinosis
Delayed wound healing, weakened resistance to or
exacerbation of existing infections
Gastro-intestinal ulceration
, hepatomegaly
Changes in blood biochemical and haematological
parameters
Hyperglycaemia
Retained placenta
Reduced viability of the calf
Pancreatitis
Milk production decrease
Laminitis
Involving significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism, e.g.,
redistribution of body fat, muscle weakness and wastage and osteoporosis may result.
After systemic administration and particularly during early stages of therapy.
Upon long-term use.
In the presence of bacterial infection, antibacterial drug cover is usually required when
steroids are used. In the presence of viral infections, steroids may worsen or hasten the
progress of the disease.
May be exacerbated in patients given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in
animals with spinal cord trauma.
With increased serum hepatic enzymes.
Transient.
When used for induction of parturition in cattle, with possible subsequent metritis and/or
subfertility.
When used for induction of parturition in cattle particularly at early time points.
Increased risk of acute pancreatitis.
Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, are known to exert a wide
range of side effects. Whilst single high doses are generally well tolerated, they may
induce severe side effects upon long-term use and when esters possessing a long
duration of action are administered. During medium to long-term use, the dose should
therefore generally be kept to the minimum necessary to control symptoms.
During therapy effective doses suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Following
cessation of treatment, symptoms of adrenal insufficiency extending to adrenocortical
atrophy can arise and this may render the animal unable to deal adequately with stressful
situations. Consideration should therefore be given to means of minimising problems of
adrenal insufficiency following the withdrawal of treatment (for further discussion see
standard texts).
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product.

Revised: September 2023
AN: 00773/2022Page 4 of 7
Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation
holder or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See also the
last section of the package leaflet for respective contact details.

None.

i) Special precautions for use in animals:
Response to long-term therapy should be monitored at regular intervals by a veterinary
surgeon. Use of corticosteroids in horses has been reported to induce laminitis. Therefore
horses treated with such preparations should be monitored frequently during the treatment
period.
Because of the pharmacological properties of the active ingredient, special care should be
taken when the product is used in animals with a weakened immune system.
Except in cases of acetonaemia and induction of parturition, the purpose of corticosteroid
administration is to produce an improvement in clinical signs rather than a cure. The
underlying disease should be further investigated. Following intra-articular administration,
use of the joint should be minimized for one month and surgery on the joint should not be
performed within eight weeks of use of this route of administration.
ii) Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
This product contains dexamethasone, which can cause allergic reactions in some people.
People with known hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients should
avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Wash hands after handling the product.
In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the
package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Pregnant women should not handle this veterinary medicinal product.
iii) Other precautions:
None.

Revised: September 2023
AN: 00773/2022Page 3 of 7

Concurrent use with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may exacerbate gastrointestinal
tract ulceration.
Because corticosteroids can reduce the immune response to vaccination, dexamethasone
should not be used in combination with vaccines or within two weeks after vaccination.
Administration of dexamethasone may induce hypokalaemia and hence increase the risk
of toxicity from cardiac glycosides. The risk of hypokalaemia may be increased if
dexamethasone is administered together with potassium depleting diuretics.
Concurrent use with anticholinesterase may lead to increased muscle weakness in
patients with myasthenia gravis. Glucocorticoids antagonise the effects of insulin.
Concurrent use with phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampicin can reduce the effects of
dexamethasone.

Do not store above 25°C.
Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Cattle: Meat and offal: 8 days
Milk: 72 hours
Pigs: Meat and offal: 2 days
Horses: Meat and offal: 8 days
Not authorised for use in horses producing milk for human consumption.
5.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.