Colvasone

Target species Horses Cattle Dogs Cats Indications for use, specifying the target species Dexamethasone is a synthetic corticosteroid with a potent anti-inflammatory action. Colvasone can be used for: •Intravenous therapy in cases where emergency treatment is indicated, particularly shock and circulatory collapse, fog fever, acute mastitis and burns. •Acetonaemia (ketosis) in cattle. Dexamethasone has a marked glucogenic action. •Inflammatory conditions in all species: the product will suppress inflammation and is indicated in the treatment of arthritis, laminitis, dermatitis etc. Contraindications Systemic corticosteroid therapy is generally contra-indicated in patients with renal disease and diabetes mellitus. Special Warnings for each target species Use of the product in horses could induce laminitis and therefore careful observations should be made during treatment. Special precautions for use Special precautions for use in animals Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, are known to exert a wide range of side-effects. Whilst single high doses are generally well tolerated, they may induce severe side-effects in long term use and when esters possessing a long duration of action are administered. Dosage in medium to long term use should therefore generally be kept to the minimum necessary to control symptoms. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the carton to the physician. Pregnant women should not handle this veterinary medicinal product. Wash hands after use. Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness) Steroids themselves, during treatment, may cause Cushingoid symptoms involving significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism e.g. redistribution of body fat, muscle weakness and wastage and osteoporosis may result. During therapy effective doses suppress the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal axis. Following cessation of treatment, symptoms of adrenal insufficiency extending to adrenocortical atrophy can arise and this may render the animal unable to deal adequately with stressful situations. Consideration should therefore be given to means of minimising problems of adrenal insufficiency following the withdrawal of treatment, e.g. a gradual reductions of dosage (for further discussion see standard texts). Systemically acting corticosteroids may cause polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia, particularly during the early stages of therapy. Some corticosteroids may cause sodium and water retention and hypokalaemia in long term use. Systemic corticosteroids have caused deposition of calcium in the skin (calcinosis cutis). Corticosteroids may delay wound healing and the immunosuppressant actions may weaken resistance to or exacerbate existing infections. Gastrointestinal ulceration has been reported in animals treated with corticosteroids and g.i.t. ulceration may be exacerbated by steroids in patients given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in corticosteroid-treated animals with spinal cord trauma. Steroids may cause enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) with increased serum hepatic enzymes. Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay Corticosteroids are not recommended for use in pregnant animals. Administration in early pregnancy is known to have caused foetal abnormalities in laboratory animals. Administration in late pregnancy may cause early parturition or abortion. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction In the presence of bacterial infection, antibacterial drug cover is usually required when steroids are used. In the presence of viral infections, steroids may worsen or hasten the progress of the disease.
Vat Rate: 20%