Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Dexamethasone is dosed at 0.02–0.1 mg/kg IV q24h in horses, per 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. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.364, Dexamethasone monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Dexamethasone is used in horses for Inflammatory conditions, recurrent airway obstruction, Inflammation, allergic reactions, recurrent airway obstruction. Routes documented in horses: IV. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Dexamethasone in horses, 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 | 0.02–0.1 mg/kg | q24h | 3-5 days; taper for chronic use | Inflammatory conditions, recurrent airway obstruction |
| 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. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.364, Dexamethasone monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| IV | 0.02–0.2 mg/kg | q24h | Short-term only | Inflammation, allergic reactions, recurrent airway obstruction | 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. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.364, Dexamethasone monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexamethasone dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: IV 0.02–0.1 mg/kg q24h; IV 0.02–0.2 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexamethasone in horses: IV.
Cited course lengths for Dexamethasone in horses include: 3-5 days; taper for chronic use; Short-term only. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dexamethasone is indicated in horses for: Inflammatory conditions, recurrent airway obstruction, Inflammation, allergic reactions, recurrent airway obstruction.
These are general warnings for Dexamethasone across species; consult the horse 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 horses — 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.