POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Dexamecine 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

Vet-Agro Trading Sp. Z o.o.

VMD MA No.

41715/4005

What it's used for

Treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis. AN: 00607/2024 & 00613/2024 Cattle Treatment of inflammation and allergic reactions. Induction of partur...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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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.

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Prescription required

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Clinical information

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

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

Treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis.
AN: 00607/2024 & 00613/2024
Cattle
Treatment of inflammation and allergic reactions.
Induction of parturition.
Treatment of primary ketosis (acetonaemia).
Pigs
Treatment of inflammation and allergic reactions.
Dogs and cats
Treatment of inflammation and allergic reactions.

Cattle, pigs, dogs and cats
Intramuscular use.
AN: 00607/2024 & 00613/2024
For the treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions the following doses
administered as single intramuscular injection are advised:
Species Dosage
(i.m.)
Horses, cattle, pigs 0.06 mg of dexamethasone/kg bw (1.5 ml of veterinary medicinal
product/50 kg bw)
Dogs, cats 0.1 mg of dexamethasone/kg bw (0.5 ml of veterinary medicinal
product/10 kg bw)
For the treatment of primary ketosis in cattle a dose of 0.02-0.04 mg of
dexamethasone/kg bw (5-10 ml of veterinary medicinal product per animal) given by
single 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 (i.e. 0.04 mg/kg) 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 of veterinary medicinal product 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 of veterinary medicinal product pro toto
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.
Normal aseptic technique should be observed. To measure small volumes of less
than 1 ml, a suitably graduated syringe should be used to ensure accurate
administration of the correct dose.
The cap should not be punctured more than 125 times. When treating groups of
animals in one run, it is recommended to use a draw-off needle that has been placed
in the vial stopper to avoid excess broaching of the stopper.

Except in emergency situations the veterinary medicinal product should not be used
in animals suffering from diabetes, chronic nephritis, renal disease, congestive heart
failure and osteoporosis.
For infectious diseases it is necessary that application of corticosteroids is associated
with effective antibiotic or chemotherapeutic treatment.
Use of the veterinary medicinal product is contraindicated in immunodeficient
animals, as well as in case of septic process, mycoses or parasitoses.
Do not use in animals affected by gastrointestinal or corneal ulcers, or demodecosis.
Do not use in case of aseptic bone necrosis, poor healing wounds or fractures.
Do not use in animals affected with Cushing's syndrome.
Do not use in animals suffering from cataract or glaucoma.
Do not use in pancreatitis, hypertonia, hypocalcaemia.
Do not use the veterinary medicinal product in the course of active vaccination.
Do not use in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients.

Cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats:
AN: 00607/2024 & 00613/2024
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Euphoria
Hypersensitivity reaction
Immunosuppression, weakened resistance to or
exacerbation of existing infections
Polydipsia
, polyphagia
Reduced growth rate
, delayed wound healing
Polyuria
Hepatomegaly
Elevated liver enzymes, sodium and water
retention
, hypokalaemia
Cutaneous calcinosis
, skin atrophy
Acute pancreatitis, gastro-intestinal ulceration
Cushings disease
(e.g. redistribution of body fat,
muscle weakness, muscle wasting and
osteoporosis), diabetes mellitus
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Abnormal behaviour
(e.g. depression
,
aggression
), excitation
Thrombosis
Delayed bone healing
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
suppression, adrenal gland disorder (atrophy)
Glucose intolerance, hypocalcaemia
Eye disorders (glaucoma, cataract)
Oedema
Arthropathy
Convulsion
, epileptic seizure
, hypertonia
Retained placenta
, metritis
13,14
, subfertility
13,14
after systemic administration and particularly during the early stages of therapy
with disruptive bone growth and damage of bone matrix
in long term use
caused by systemic corticosteroids
May be exacerbated by steroids in patients given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs and in animals with spinal cord trauma.
Cushingoid symptoms, involving significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein
and mineral metabolism.
steroid induced or deterioration of existing
in dogs and cats
in dogs
reversible, caused by inactivity
due to lowering of convulsive threshold
possible manifestation of latent epilepsy
in cattle, when use for induction of parturition
subsequent to retained placenta
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 symptoms.
AN: 00607/2024 & 00613/2024
Page 5 of 9Reporting 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.

None.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
The induction of parturition with corticosteroids may be associated with reduced
viability of calves, an increased incidence of retained placentae and possible
subsequent metritis and/or subfertility in cattle.
Care should be taken when the veterinary medicinal 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 veterinary medicinal product in horses for other
conditions could induce laminitis and careful observation during the treatment period
should be made.
During therapy effective doses suppress the hypothalamo-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, e.g. dosing to coincide with the time of the endogenous cortisol peak (i.e.
AN: 00607/2024 & 00613/2024
in the morning with regard to dogs and the evening regarding cats) and a gradual
reduction of dosage.
Its use in younger or older individuals may be associated with an increased risk of
side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to decrease the dose and clinical monitoring
during treatment. During a course of treatment the situation should be reviewed
frequently by close veterinary supervision.
In the presence of bacterial infection, antibacterial drug cover is usually required
when steroids are used.
In the presence of infections, steroids may worsen or hasten the progress of the
disease.
Except in cases of ketosis and induction of parturition, corticosteroid administration is
to induce an improvement in clinical signs rather than a cure. The underlying disease
should be further investigated.
Due to their immunosuppressive activity, corticosteroids can lead to a reduced
response to vaccination. Therefore, it is recommended that the veterinary medicinal
product should not be used in combination with vaccines.
In suckling animals, the veterinary medicinal product should be used only according
to the benefit-risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection as dexamethasone can cause
allergic reactions in some people.
People with known hypersensitivity to dexamethasone should avoid contact with the
veterinary medicinal product.
In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the
package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Dexamethasone may affect fertility or the unborn child. To avoid the risk from
accidental self-injection, pregnant women should not handle this veterinary medicinal
product.
This veterinary medicinal product is a skin and eye irritant. Avoid contact with skin
and eyes. In case 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
veterinary medicinal product should not be used in combination with vaccines.
Dexamethasone should not be administered in conjunction with other anti-
inflammatory substances since it increases the risk for gastric ulcers or intestinal
bleeding.
Veterinary medicinal product administration may cause hypokalaemia thus increasing
the risk of toxicity of cardiac glycosides.
The risk of hypokalaemia can increase when dexamethasone is administered in
conjunction with diuretics which influence on excretion of potassium.
Co-administration with cholinesterase inhibitors can lead to muscle weakness in
patients suffering from myasthenia gravis.
Glucocorticoids antagonize insulin.
Co-administration of phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampicin can suppress the effect
of dexamethasone.
Increased intraocular pressure may occur when anticholinergic drugs such as
atropine are administered simultaneously with dexamethasone.
Dexamethasone reduces effect of anticoagulants.

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.

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.