Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Dexamethasone is dosed at 0.25–1 mg/kg IM once in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Dexamethasone is used in cats for Acute allergic reaction, feline asthma exacerbation, Shock, severe inflammation, Anti-inflammatory, immune-mediated disease. Routes documented in cats: IM, IV, PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Dexamethasone in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Azium, Dexafort
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.25–1 mg/kg | once | Single dose; follow with oral taper | Acute allergic reaction, feline asthma exacerbation | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.5–2 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Shock, severe inflammation | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 0.05–0.2 mg/kg | q12-24h | Taper over weeks | Anti-inflammatory, immune-mediated disease | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.392 (2026-08-01). |
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Potent synthetic glucocorticoid. Suppresses inflammation, immune responses, and allergic reactions. 25-30x potency of cortisol.
Immunosuppressive. PU/PD, polyphagia. Avoid in active infections without antibiotic coverage. Prolonged use causes iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism. Avoid in reptiles if possible (severe immunosuppression).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexamethasone dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.25–1 mg/kg once; IV 0.5–2 mg/kg once; PO 0.05–0.2 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexamethasone in cats: IM, IV, PO.
Cited course lengths for Dexamethasone in cats include: Single dose; follow with oral taper; Single dose; Taper over weeks. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dexamethasone is indicated in cats for: Acute allergic reaction, feline asthma exacerbation, Shock, severe inflammation, Anti-inflammatory, immune-mediated disease.
These are general warnings for Dexamethasone across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Immunosuppressive. PU/PD, polyphagia. Avoid in active infections without antibiotic coverage. Prolonged use causes iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism. Avoid in reptiles if possible (severe immunosuppression).
Why a species-specific page? Dexamethasone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.