Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Betamethasone is used in dogs for Inflammatory dermatoses. Routes documented in dogs: Topical. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Betamethasone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Celestone
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topical | Avoid prolonged use (skin atrophy) | q12-24h | 7-14 days | Inflammatory dermatoses | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1440 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.127, Betamethasone (Systemic) monograph spanning p.127-129; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.04 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.60 | 0.04 mg/kg i.v., i.m. q3wk prn for up to 4 injections, 0.025 mg/kg p.o. q24h |
| 0.025 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.60 | 0.04 mg/kg i.v., i.m. q3wk prn for up to 4 injections, 0.025 mg/kg p.o. q24h |
| 0.1–0.2 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.100 | • Anti-inflammatory effects: 0.1-0.2 mg/kg q12-24h PO. |
| 0.2–0.5 |
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Potent synthetic glucocorticoid reducing inflammation, pruritus, and cell proliferation. Binds intracellular glucocorticoid receptors modulating gene transcription.
Potent topical steroid — skin atrophy with prolonged use. Systemic absorption possible especially through damaged skin. Avoid occlusive dressings. Use lowest effective potency.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Betamethasone dose range in dogs, with cited source references: Topical Avoid prolonged use (skin atrophy) q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Betamethasone in dogs: Topical.
Cited course lengths for Betamethasone in dogs include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Betamethasone is indicated in dogs for: Inflammatory dermatoses.
These are general warnings for Betamethasone across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Potent topical steroid — skin atrophy with prolonged use. Systemic absorption possible especially through damaged skin. Avoid occlusive dressings. Use lowest effective potency.
Why a species-specific page? Betamethasone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| PO |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.100 |
| • Immunosuppressive effects: 0.2-0.5 mg/kg q12-24h PO. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.