This study aimed to determinate the effects of Dexamethasone (DEX) administered parentally (Intramuscularly:
IM) at therapeutic doses conventionally used in the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive treatments on blood
parameters values in sheep.
Fifteen sheep of Ouled Djellal breeds were randomly divided into three groups of five rams. The animals received
an injection of Dexamethasone (DEXALONEND solution) at a rate of 1.52 mg DEX/d during 6 days for group 1
and 3.4 mg DEX/d during 6 days for group 2, the third group has served as a control group and did not receive any
treatment. Blood samples taken over a period of 3 weeks were analyzed to define blood parameters (WBC: White
Blood Cells, RBC: Red Blood Cells, HCT: Hematocrit, HGB: Hemoglobin, and PLT: Platelets). It has been shown
that Dexamethasone induced in treated animals, an increase of WBC number and platelets with a diminution of RBC
number and HGB rate, at the same time, variations in hematocrit were more fluctuating. From these results, we can
deduce that Dexamethasone effects are transitory and therefore do not have a significant impact on the health of the
animals.
