From:
katharine
Date: 2001-09-03 13:01:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Vaccine and dexamethasone
Patty wrote:
<The only caution I would add is that
dexamethasone is a steroid
and immunosuppresant, my concern is that you are
giving
a vaccine and need the immune system to respond in
order
to get the desired effect. So, dexamethasone
before or
right after the shot may decrease the immune
response and
not give you the level of antibody you need to
protect the ferret.<
I'm glad you brought this up, Patty. I have just
looked up dexmethasone in my wildlife
pharmaceutical book (Willowbrook Wildlife Center
Pharmaceutical Index) and was going to ask about
the role of dex in premedicating for
vaccinations. I have mostly heard of it being
used with head injuries in wildlife
rehabilitation. Maybe Caity can clarify this for
us as she is who posted that her vet uses dex as a
premedication for 3 days prior to vaccinating one
of hers.
Pharmacology: A synthetic analogue of prednisolone
with more potent glucocorticoid, and minimal
mineralocorticoid, therapeutic action.
Indications: Used as supportive therapy as an
anti-inflammatory.
Contraindications: Systemic fungal infections,
viral infections, immunosuppressive diseases, and
adrenocortical hypertrophy (Cushing's disease).
I'm certainly no doctor but I don't understand how
this drug could help prevent a vaccine reaction.
Perhaps one of our vets can explain.
Katharine