"Dexamethasone" for dogs: instructions for use, dosage, reviews of veterinarians
Dogs that suffer from allergies give their loving owners a lot of worries. Constant strongest itching, sores from scratching, nervous system disorders are just some unpleasant allergy symptoms in dogs. Seasonal and food allergies suffer from dogs of different breeds, mainly owners of wool of light shades. And to cope with the consequences of allergies is not always easy. In addition, in order to protect the dog, you often have to look for a tool that has an instant and lasting effect. Many people were convinced of the effectiveness of the drug "Dexamethasone" for dogs as an antiallergic agent. It is important to understand what "Dexamethasone" is, what is the purpose of this medication for dogs?
Description
"Dexamethasone" for dogs belongs to the group of glucocorticosteroid preparations( hormonal drug).It is a crystalline powder of white color. You can buy it as a solution for injections of white or yellow.
Composition of
The active substance of the drug is disodium phosphate. In a single ampoule solution( 1 ml) contains sodium salt( dexamethasone phosphate) 4 mg. Interestingly, the effectiveness of dexamethasone significantly exceeds the efficacy of hydrocortisone( 0.75 mg of this drug works similarly to 25 mg hydrocortisone).
Action of the drug
"Dexamethasone" is designed to treat a number of animals( not only cats and dogs, but also pigs, horses, many ruminants).A single application of the drug provides a prolonged effect( more than two days).The drug has anti-inflammatory properties, neutralizes the effects of toxins, effectively reduces the sensitivity of the animal to any kind of allergens, removes the symptoms of allergies and traumatic shock. Among other things, the drug reduces the body's immunity.
The drug has an active effect on metabolism. So, for example, this drug actively promotes the acceleration of the absorption of carbohydrates from the food intake, increases the level of glucose coming from the liver to the blood, and, therefore, helps the body produce enough insulin.
Another feature of the action of "Dexamethasone" is the control of water-electrolyte metabolism in animal cells. In practice, this is manifested in a decrease in the level of calcium absorbed by the body, as well as in a significant retention of water and sodium salts in it.
Equally, the drug has an effect on the exchange of proteins in the body. Thus, the drug actively reduces protein synthesis, in plasma reduces the level of globulins, while the synthesis of albumins in the kidneys and liver is activated.
It is interesting that as an antiallergic drug, as well as an anti-inflammatory drug, "Dexamethasone" is thirty-five times more effective than cortisone. Therefore, its use is much more preferable.
Indications for use
It is used for the treatment of arthritis of various genesis, skin diseases( including exfoliative dermatitis), allergic reactions( including atopic and contact dermatitis), shock, certain types of tumors, traumatic brain injuries, various hematological diseases,diseases of the gastrointestinal tract( including ulcerative colitis), various kinds of autoimmune diseases;is used for asthmatic status, thrombocytopenia, acute croup, agranulocytosis, edema of the brain.
"Dexamethasone": application for dogs
This medicine has its own special features for different animals. When using the drug "Dexamethasone" for dogs, the dosage should be carefully observed. It is administered parenterally( depending on the type of animal: for example, for horses and representatives of cattle, the dose is 5 ml, for a pig - from 0.5 to 3 ml depending on the weight of the animal, for dogs and cats, the dose is from 0.5up to 1 ml, depending on the weight of the animal and topically( in similar doses, adjusted depending on the weight of the animal to which the drug is administered.)
As a rule, treatment with this drug lasts no more than three days, and can be extended only if urgently needed.
If the drug is introduced to ease the condition with spinal trauma, the following dosage should be observed: 0.5 ml of medication per kilogram of body weight. Enter it should be every eight hours from the time of injury and to ease the condition( however, no more than three times in a row).
If the agent is used as anti-shock, then apply from four to six milligrams of the drug( in powder) or 1-1.5 ml of the "Dexamethasone" solution( injections for dogs) per kilogram of animal weight. In such cases, it is administered intravenously. Simultaneously with the treatment with the drug it is important to permanently replenish the loss of water in the animal's body.
Side effect of
With prolonged use and non-compliance with the prescribed dosage, some side effects may occur. For example, vomiting or nausea, a decrease in appetite, pancreatitis( and other unpleasant symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract), a disturbance in the regulation of the water balance, swelling, a sharp increase in body weight of the animal, thrombosis, heart failure, dizziness, deterioration of sleep, confusion,, unreasonable anxiety, decreased visual acuity, the appearance of a pseudotumor of the brain, weakness in muscles, joint pain, skin irritation, sudden itching, decreased immunity, a sharp decrease in glucose tolerance, insufficientcalcium in the body, hiccups, arrhythmia, excessive perspiration, cramps, headache, paranoia occurrence, development of predisposition to various eye infections, osteoporosis, flatulence, a significant decrease in muscle mass.
If these side effects occur, symptomatic treatment is necessary.
Warning
Sometimes after the completion of treatment with the drug "Dexamethasone" for dogs or immediately during it, an event occurs which becomes for the animal additional stress, sometimes very severe( for example, trauma or some other disease).In this case, it is necessary to increase the applied dose of the drug or to introduce other medicines that allow reducing the level of stress and supporting the nervous system of the dog.
Advantages of the drug
One of the main advantages of the drug "Dexamethasone" is the price. In comparison with other drugs of this kind, it is not very expensive. This is one of the reasons why many choose "Dexamethasone".The price of the drug ranges from thirty to one hundred and fifty rubles( depending on the form of packaging and the country of origin).
A wide range of actions makes it extremely popular. Practice and feedback of many owners of allergenic dogs confirm the effectiveness of the drug Dexamethasone. The use of this drug for dogs to a large extent brings relief in acute conditions.
Disadvantages of the drug
"Dexamethasone" for dogs has a large number of side effects and contraindications, such as pregnancy, immunodeficiency, tuberculosis, mycoses, ulcer, diverticulitis, mental disorders( eg acute psychosis), hepatitis, cardiac and renal insufficiency, hypoalbumism,a variety of infectious, as well as parasitic diseases, glaucoma, simultaneous vaccination. In general, the drug may have a negative effect on the body in the event that contraindications are not taken into account.
Of course, in case of allergic reactions it would be effective to use "Dexamethasone" for dogs. Instruction, with which you can explore all the features of the use of this drug, is mandatory for everyone who plans to use this medication to treat their pet. After all, only in this case you can be prepared for all side effects, minimize their effects and protect your pet.
Moreover, it is not necessary to expose the animal to an unnecessary risk, starting treatment with the drug, if there are contraindications to the use of this drug. If you carefully consider the characteristics of "Dexamethasone", you can use this medicine to benefit the health of the animal.