POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Dexadreson 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection

Active ingredient: Dexamethasone

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Horses Pigs

Manufacturer

Intervet International B.V.

VMD MA No.

06376/4085

What it's used for

anti-allergic agent in horses, cattle, pigs, dogs and cats and for the treatment of primary ketosis in cattle. The product can also be used to induce partu...

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

Dexadreson 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

anti-allergic agent in horses, cattle, pigs, dogs and cats and for the treatment of
primary ketosis in cattle. The product can also be used to induce parturition in cattle.
The product is suitable for intravenous use in the horse and is thus of particular benefit
in cases needing emergency treatment.

Horses: Intravenous, intramuscular or intra-articular use.
Normal aseptic technique should be observed.
For the treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions: The following average doses
are advised. However, the actual dose used should be determined by the severity of
the signs and the length of time for which they have been present.
Species
Horses, cattle, pigs 1.5 ml/50 kg
Dogs, cats 0.5 ml/10 kg
For the treatment of primary ketosis in cattle: A dose of 5-10 ml given by intramuscular
injection is advocated dependent on the size of the cow and the duration of the signs.
Care should be taken not to overdose Channel Island breeds. Larger doses will be
required if the signs have been present for some time or if relapsed animals are being
treated.
For the induction of parturition: To avoid foetal oversize and mammary oedema in
cattle.
A single intramuscular injection of 10 ml after day 260 of pregnancy.
Parturition will normally occur within 48-72 hours.
For the treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis: By intra-articular injection in the
horse.
Dose 1 - 5 ml.
These quantities are not specific and are quoted purely as a guide. Injections into joint
spaces or bursae should be preceded by the removal of an equivalent volume of
synovial fluid. Strict asepsis is essential.
To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as
possible.
To measure small volumes of less than 1 ml a suitably graduated syringe should be
used to ensure accurate administration of the correct dose.

Except in emergency situations the product should not be used in animals suffering
from diabetes, chronic nephritis, renal disease, congestive heart failure, osteoporosis
and in viral infections during the viraemic stage.

Cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats:
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated reports):
Polyuria
Polydipsia
Polyphagia
Hepatomegaly
Elevated liver enzymes
Other blood disorder (retention of water,
sodium and hypokalemia)
Cutaneous calcinosis
Delayed healing
Hypersensitivity
Particularly during the early stages of therapy.
During long term use.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national
competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for
respective contact details.

If the product is used for induction of parturition in cattle, then a high incidence of
retained placentae may be experienced and possible subsequent metritis and/or
subfertility.
Care should be taken when the product is used for the treatment of laminitis in horses,
where there is the possibility that such treatment could worsen the condition. The use
of the product in horses for other conditions could induce laminitis and careful
observation during the treatment period should be made.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
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 in long term use and when esters possessing a long
duration of action are administered. Dosage in medium to long term use should
therefore generally be kept to the minimum necessary to control clinical signs. During
a course of treatment the situation should be reviewed frequently by close veterinary
supervision.
Steroids themselves, during treatment, may cause Cushingoid symptoms involving
significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism, e.g.,
redistribution of body fat, muscle weakness and wastage and osteoporosis may result.
During therapy effective doses suppress the hypothalamo-pituitreal-adrenal axis.
Following cessation of treatment, signs 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,
e.g., dosing to coincide with the time of the endogenous cortisol peak (i.e., in the
morning with regard to dogs and the evening for cats) and a gradual reduction of
dosage (for further discussion see standard texts).
Corticosteroids may delay wound healing and the immunosuppressive effect can
weaken the immune system or worsen pre-existing infections. 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.
Gastrointestinal ulceration has been reported in animals treated with corticosteroids
and gastrointestinal tract ulceration may be exacerbated by steroids in patients given
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in animals with spinal cord trauma.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
The veterinary medicinal product can cause allergic reactions. People with known
hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients should avoid
contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection. In case of accidental self-
injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label
to the physician.
To avoid the risk of self-injection, pregnant women should not handle the veterinary
medicinal product.
Avoid contact with skin and eyes. In the event of accidental eye or skin contact,
wash/irrigate the area with clean running water. Seek medical attention if irritation
persists.
Wash hands after use.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

Because corticosteroids can reduce the immune response to vaccination, the product
should not be used in combination with vaccines.

Do not store above 25 °C.
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.

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.