Instructions for use of Dexamethasone for cats and kittens

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Dexamethasone is a medicine of a number of steroid hormones, intended for the treatment of people, but it is often prescribed to dogs and other animals, and the instructions for using the drug Dexamethasone for cats must be strictly followed. Since this drug is hormonal and replaces cortisol in the body, its use has a significant impact on the functioning of the endocrine system, which means that it is unacceptable to use it uncontrollably or “preemptively”, this causes harm to the animal’s body. However, the wide spectrum of action of the drug makes it indispensable in the treatment of eczema, conjunctivitis, otitis media, allergies and other diseases. Sold in veterinary and medical pharmacies.

Indications for use

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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> If you read the instructions, it becomes clear why the tool is so popular. The medicine can be used if the cat has:

• bursitis;
• arthritis;
• intervertebral hernia;
• pathology of the musculoskeletal system;
• eczema;
• allergic dermatitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• lupus erythematosus;
• leukemia;
• allergies to medications;
• cancer;
• anaphylactic shock;
• Quincke's edema;
• injuries and swelling after injuries.

As you can see, it makes sense to keep several ampoules in your veterinary kit.

Dexamethasone is prescribed to cats if their adrenal glands do not secrete certain hormones. When a cat begins to have eye problems, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis or keratoconjunctivitis, they purchase the product in the form of eye drops. They act as an anti-inflammatory medicine for diseases of the organs of vision of non-infectious origin.

Characteristics of Dexamethasone

This is a strong drug that belongs to the category of glucocorticoids, steroidal glucocorticoid hormones.
The medicine is used to correct inflammatory reactions, as an antishock and antiallergic agent. The drug is used to treat dogs, cats, and birds. It is produced in the form of injections and tablets of different dosages for ease of use.

The peculiarity and advantages of Dexamethasone are that it has a more powerful anti-inflammatory effect than other anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications. The drug is stronger than Cortisol and Prednisolone. Dexamethasone is used in combination with other drugs to treat eczema, otitis and conjunctivitis in animals.

The drug in cats affects all body systems and is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, adrenal insufficiency, allergies, asthma, anaphylactic shock, dermatitis, neoplasia, hematological and nervous system diseases. Dexamethosone in veterinary medicine is used to treat nephrotic syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, traumatic, hypovolemic and cardiogenic shock.

The medicine is used for the treatment of myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis - inflammatory heart diseases.

Veterinarians use dexamethasone in cats when conducting diagnostic tests, including the dexamethasone test.

For congestive heart failure in cats, the drug can be harmful because it causes fluid retention in the body. For this reason, Dexamethasone is used with great caution in small animal cardiology.

This corticosteroid is intended to replace the natural hormone synthesized by the adrenal cortex - cortisol. Corticosteroids suppress the immune system, blocking the synthesis of agents that cause inflammatory reactions in the body. In case of infections, treatment with this drug should be carried out carefully.

Release form and composition

On the shelf in the veterinary pharmacy there is Dexamethasone, represented by eye drops, tablets, injection and ointment. All these forms are designed for ease of use and disease specificity.

The most popular are injections. In addition to the main active ingredient, the composition contains boric acid, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, water for injection and other components.

Action

The active substance of the drug is a synthetic hormone, which is an analogue of the hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex. It takes part in many physiological processes and is capable of influencing the endocrine and nervous systems, the functioning of muscle tissue and joints.

The drug has the following effects on the animal’s body:

• anti-inflammatory;
• anti-shock;
• antiallergic;
• immunosuppressive;
• antitoxic, etc.

The anti-inflammatory effect of the drug is due to the fact that when the synthetic hormone penetrates the body, it suppresses the production of a substance involved in inflammatory processes. A special feature of the drug is its ability to suppress certain types of receptors. Due to this, the antiallergic effect is ensured - the body stops reacting to the irritant. In addition, the functioning of the immune system is suppressed.

Hormonal injections are often used to eliminate shock conditions due to allergies or injuries, since they act quickly. The active component fully “works” for the body, but when using tablets, the bioavailability (absorption) of the active substance does not exceed 50-60%.

The medicine replaces the hormone Cortisol. It acts on the body in several directions: prevents the combination of substances that cause inflammatory processes; has an anti-shock effect; increases the susceptibility of beta-adrenergic receptors; participates in the production of protein; helps produce enzymes necessary for normal life.

Instructions for use of Dexamethasone

The instructions describe all cases of use of the drug and recommendations for its use. The dosage is selected according to the pathological process, general health, and symptoms.

The drug Dexamethasone is most often recommended for use in combination with other medications. This enhances the effect and speeds up the healing process of the purr. Combine the product with:

• Aspirin;
• Rimadyl;
• Phenobarbital;
• Insulin;
• Mitotane;
• Cyclosporine;
• Amphotericin;
• Cyclophosphamide;
• Digoxin.

Despite all the information received, you should not take everything into your own hands and treat your beloved cat without examining a doctor.

A visit to the veterinarian is also required to ensure that the right combination of medications is selected that will treat your pet without undesirable consequences. In case of unforeseen complications or reactions, the doctor prescribes an analogue of the drug or cancels the previously prescribed one.

Injections

All organisms are unique, so the dosage is selected individually. It is important to take into account the cat’s body weight and its disease. If it is anaphylactic shock, then only one injection is needed. For 1 kg of body weight you need to take 1.5 ml of Dexamethasone injection.

In other cases, it is recommended to take an average of 0.5 to 1.5 ml of medication per 1 kg of weight. The administration is intramuscular, so if you have no experience, you should study the information on how to give an intramuscular injection to a cat.

Eye drops

Unfortunately, our pets are not protected from diseases of the organs of vision, so the veterinarian may recommend buying Dexamethasone eye drops. If the course of the disease is acute, then drop 3-5 times a day, 1 drop per eye. Treatment takes place within 48 hours.

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If the disease is chronic, apply one drop to each eye twice a day.

On average, treatment lasts up to three weeks, but this will be determined by your veterinarian. It happens that a cat develops problems with the retina or develops strabismus. In these cases, it is advisable to start using drops 6-7 days after surgery, this will reduce the likelihood of developing inflammation.

Dexamethosone is dripped 3-4 times a day for a course of 2-4 weeks.

Pills

Dexamethasone tablets are rarely prescribed to treat cats. There are understandable reasons for this. The product in tablet form acts slowly compared to injections, and not every cat is happy to swallow a tablet.

However, you can and should learn to give your animal a pill.

If long-term treatment is prescribed, then preference is given to tablets

The dosage is recommended based on the pet’s weight; per 1 kg of body weight there should be 0.1 mg of dexamethosone.

"Dexamethasone" for cats: description of the drug

As we already said in the introduction, Dexamethasone is a drug that was originally invented specifically for humans and is sold in human pharmacies. However, since the bodies of humans and animals have many similarities, it is also suitable for treating our pets.

This drug is a complete analogue of the hormone cortisol, which is produced naturally in living beings. This drug has a depressing effect on the immune system, as a result of which the combination of biological substances that provoke the development of inflammatory processes is prevented. The drug works great as a remedy whose action is directed against:

• allergies;
• inflammation, etc.

Dexamethasone is an effective drug

This drug is released in the form of:

• solution for subcutaneous administration;
• eye drops;
• tablets, etc.

In liquid form, the drug has a transparent color, provided that you purchase it in an injection format. You can buy ampoules with a volume of 50 and 10 milliliters.

The spectrum of action of this product is really wide, as is the scope of its application. Thus, in veterinary practice it can be used not only in the treatment of cats, but also dogs and other animals.

During their lives, cats suffer many ailments, which Dexamethasone can cure.

Indications for the use of the drug may include various diseases in cats, for example:

• various pathologies of the adrenal glands;
• rheumatoid type arthritis;
• various pathologies of the animal’s nervous system;
• arthrosis;
• ailments associated with damage to the lungs and respiratory tract;
• lupus erythematosus;
• skin diseases;
• ailments associated with disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
• anaphylactic shock;
• traumatic shock, etc.

However, it is important to remember that the drug, as we have already said, is highly effective and strong, so you need to use it with caution if your cat has:

• pathologies of the heart and circulatory system of the body;
• kidney failure;
• liver failure;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• disturbances in the functioning of the visual organs.

Selecting the correct dose of Dexamethasone that a cat needs in a given situation will determine whether the treatment will have negative consequences

It is extremely important for the veterinarian to know how to choose the correct dose of the drug, and for this he needs to have a good understanding of what result he expects. The fact is that it is strictly forbidden to prescribe Dexamethasone as a “just in case” remedy. The fact is that even in small quantities this hormone provokes an imbalance in the endocrine system.

If cats have allergies or any inflammatory processes requiring intervention, Dexamethasone is prescribed to animals in the form of:

• injections;
• tablets;
• less drops.

The product is sold in any human pharmacy, including veterinary

It is worth saying that the effect of Dexamethasone, for comparison, is several times more effective than the effects of such drugs as:

• "Cortisone";
• "Prednisolone", etc.

Provided that the cat does not take the medicine pointwise (not by dripping into the eyes, for example), all systems of its body receive some part of the incoming substance. This drug itself rarely acts as the main drug, but it almost always becomes an element of complex therapy for diseases such as:

• inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye;
• eczema;
• otitis, etc.

Dexamethasone is great for treating conjunctivitis in cats

Where and how to inject Dexamethasone

The Dexamethosone injection requires compliance with several simple rules. First, the intended injection site is examined; the skin should be healthy. No processing needed.

You cannot mix different drugs in one syringe!

The exact dose will be determined by the veterinarian; approximately 0.1-0.5 ml is taken.

Reviews about “Dexamethasone (eye drops) for cats and dogs”:

A herd of cows is always surrounded by a swarm of bloodsucking creatures. The cows drive some away with their tails, while they fight off others by shaking their heads. Often, I note, flies infect the eyes of defenseless animals.

When the situation becomes complicated, threatening to develop into an eye injury, we begin treatment - we instill Dexamethasone. A specialized product relieves swelling of the areas around the eyes and heals damage to eye tissue. The suffering animal takes note - eye drops are applied three times a day. The product relieves cows from developing conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

Usually a week's course of instillation is enough. After all, Dexamethasone is a powerful therapeutic agent. It should be noted that the packaging is convenient - the bottle is a plastic dropper that allows you to measure the volume required for instillation. For other eye diseases, keratitis, scleritis, uveitis, drops also help.

Of course, the instillation is preceded by washing the animal’s eye with saline solution. The eyes of cows going through the winter can also become sore. Here you should warm up “Dexamethasone” to the animal’s body temperature.

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The latest cat problems took us by surprise, because, having returned after a night of festivities, the cat Funtik had a thick and cloudy liquid oozing profusely from his right eye, the eye was in a terrible state, which required urgent and emergency help, and the necessary drugs were in the house, Unfortunately, at that time, it didn’t turn out. At the veterinary hospital, a specialist veterinarian reassured me that everything would heal and prescribed the drug dexamezatone, in the form of drops. The course of treatment is minimal, in our case, from two weeks, we were treated for almost three weeks. The droplets are well tolerated by the pet, do not burn, and are priced adequately, so that, at my discretion, everyone can afford to buy them if necessary. I didn’t notice any negative aspects of the drug for myself; the drug helped a lot and coped with the cat’s eye disease effectively and efficiently. If there is an urgent need, I recommend the drug dexamethasone.

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The cat's eye was severely damaged in the fight, both the cornea and mucous membrane were injured, the inner eyelid was swollen and fell out, the pupil dilated over the entire eye and did not react to light. On the recommendation of a veterinarian, he was treated with this drug. First, the eyes were washed with a disinfectant solution (Dekasan), then 1 drop of Dexamethasone was instilled, morning and evening, the medicine was allowed to be absorbed, a cotton swab soaked in the disinfectant solution and a gauze bandage were applied. The very next morning, the swelling of the inner eyelid decreased and it fell into place, the mucous membrane and pupil were restored on the 3rd day, the wound completely healed in 5 days. Neither during treatment nor after the eyes did it fester or become inflamed. During the treatment, the cat felt fine, only when the eye began to heal, he tried to rub it. There were no side effects from the drug, the animal reacted calmly to it. Before the injury, he often had conjunctivitis, but after treatment with Dexamethasone it stopped, and in both eyes. The medicine is effective and safe, I recommend it.

Dexamethasone is a medicine of a number of steroid hormones, intended for the treatment of people, but it is often prescribed to dogs and other animals, and the instructions for using the drug Dexamethasone for cats must be strictly followed. Since this drug is hormonal and replaces cortisol in the body, its use has a significant impact on the functioning of the endocrine system, which means that it is unacceptable to use it uncontrollably or “preemptively”, this causes harm to the animal’s body. However, the wide spectrum of action of the drug makes it indispensable in the treatment of eczema, conjunctivitis, otitis media, allergies and other diseases. Sold in veterinary and medical pharmacies.

Contraindications

The veterinarian should first of all find out from the owners whether the cat is currently being given any other medicine, since not all of them are compatible with each other.

The product is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating cats, as well as for cats before and after vaccination.

You will have to act more carefully if the cat has kidney and liver failure, or diseases of the cardiovascular system.

If the pet is elderly or has diabetes, the drug is prescribed in rare cases.

Side effects

If overdosed or incorrectly prescribed, the drug can lead to a number of side effects, both minor and fatal. This may include increased seizure activity, increased urination, and increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. Shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhea may rapidly develop. In the long term, during treatment, peptic ulcers of the stomach and intestines and lethargy develop.

Analogs

If there is a reason not to use Dexamethasone for cats, then analogues are purchased. They have a very similar principle of action, but it is better to choose a remedy together with a veterinarian.

For what diseases is Dexamethasone prescribed?

The drug Dexamethasone has shown high effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and immune suppressing effect, which is an order of magnitude higher than that of Cortisol or Prednisolone. In veterinary medicine, the drug is used to carry out small and large dexamethasone tests, the purpose of which is to check the activity of the adrenal glands for a correct diagnosis.

Indications for the use of Dexamethasone in cats are most often:

• Joint diseases (arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism).
• Pathologies of the nervous, respiratory and digestive systems.
• State of anaphylactic or traumatic shock.
• Allergy, lupus erythematosus.
• Skin diseases.
• Conjunctivitis, otitis.

This medicine can be indispensable when providing first aid to a veterinarian, so it would be nice to always have a couple of ampoules in your home medicine cabinet. In case of urgent need, a one-time appointment may not be agreed upon with the doctor, for example, if the cat was stung by an insect and an adverse reaction began to rapidly develop (severe swelling, allergies, anaphylactic shock) and there is simply no time to wait for medical help, but this is the exception, not the rule .

Owner reviews

Ksenia, owner of a 6-year-old cat:

“We had to test the effectiveness of Dexamethasone under sad circumstances - the cat was hit by a car. The blow hit him on the head. The animal's condition was terrible - Mirochka was convulsing, foam was coming out of her mouth. We immediately rushed to the clinic, fortunately it is located nearby. The doctor immediately injected me with a hormonal drug. It was he who helped us save our beloved cat. Of course, it would not have been possible without long-term and complex treatment. Now I have 2 ampoules of this product in my medicine cabinet, just in case.”

Regina, owner of the Scottish Fold cat:

“We were prescribed Dexamethasone for cystitis to relieve the inflammatory process. Because of the pain, the cat could not go to the toilet; a catheter had to be inserted. They injected it for several days, there were no side effects. The veterinarian warned that you should not use the drug yourself.”

Storage conditions of the drug

The medicine must be stored in a safe place away from children and animals. The air temperature should be no higher than 25 degrees. You can also store the liquid in a syringe in the refrigerator, but no longer than 24 hours.

Important! Drops for eyes and ears come in a small bottle with a pipette at the tip. After the drug has been used, its shelf life in this form is no more than 30 days. Before you start using the drops, the bottle must be shaken thoroughly.