Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Dexamethasone is dosed at 0.04–0.08 mg/kg IV single dose or q24h in cattle, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.361, Dexamethasone monograph spanning p.361-366; 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. Dexamethasone is used in cattle for Inflammation, ketosis, parturition induction, Anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid), extra-label. Routes documented in cattle: IV. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Dexamethasone in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Azium, Dexafort
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.04–0.08 mg/kg | single dose or q24h | — | Inflammation, ketosis, parturition induction | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.361, Dexamethasone monograph spanning p.361-366; 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 |
| IV | 0.04–0.08 mg/kg | q24h or single dose | 1-3 days | Anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid), extra-label | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.361, Dexamethasone monograph spanning p.361-366; 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 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your cattle's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexamethasone dose ranges in cattle, with cited source references: IV 0.04–0.08 mg/kg single dose or q24h; IV 0.04–0.08 mg/kg q24h or single dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexamethasone in cattle: IV.
Cited course lengths for Dexamethasone in cattle include: 1-3 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dexamethasone is indicated in cattle for: Inflammation, ketosis, parturition induction, Anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid), extra-label.
These are general warnings for Dexamethasone across species; consult the cattle 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 cattle — 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.