Application of Exekan for dogs

Skin diseases in dogs are not as harmless as they seem at first glance. Due to constant itching, the pet cannot sleep, loses appetite, does not play, and becomes lethargic. In addition, bleeding scratches often become infected. But there is a way to improve the animal’s condition in a matter of days - Execan sugar cubes.

In this review I will look at what Exekan does, how to use it, whether it is dangerous, and whether there are safer analogues. At the end of the article you will find answers to your questions and my recommendations for using the drug.

Release form and composition

Eczekan is a hormonal drug for itching and inflammation of the skin caused by non-infectious factors. It is produced by the company Ceva Sante Animale (France).

The drug is produced in the form of sugar cubes (briquettes) impregnated with active ingredients. They are packaged in blisters of 8 pieces: two plates are placed in each pack. On average, a package costs 1,015 rubles.

Execan is a complex medicine. Each cube contains several active ingredients:

Sucrose is used as a filler: up to 8 g per cube.

General information about the drug Exekan

The drug is produced in the form of small sugar cubes (briquettes), which must be dissolved in water. The weight of each of them is 8 grams. Briquettes are packaged in plastic blisters of 8 pcs. In turn, the packages of cubes are additionally loaded into cardboard boxes with information on them about the manufacturer, production date and shelf life.

Exekan briquettes are impregnated with a special composition. Its active ingredient is dexamethasone. The substance belongs to the group of corticosteroids. It is he who has an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. In addition to dexamethasone, the medicine includes:

• Vitamin B6. Actively affects the reproductive and nervous systems, normalizes fat metabolism.
• Vitamin RR. Replenishes nicotinic acid deficiency, which causes skin pathologies (dryness, itching, peeling).
• Amino acid methionine. It acts as a hepatoprotector. Protects the liver from exposure to toxins.

Indications for use

Exekan for dogs is prescribed for acute and chronic skin diseases accompanied by itching and inflammation . It is important to exclude parasitic and infectious etiologies of pathologies: in these cases, the medicine will only hide the symptoms, while the pet’s condition will continue to worsen.

The drug is used in two cases. At:

1. Dermatitis. Triggered by allergies, mechanical damage, taking medications.
2. Eczema. Arise due to trauma, neurotic disorders, allergies or due to internal irritants.

Dermatitis and eczema are manifested by unbearable itching, scratching (even bloody wounds), restlessness of the dog, lack of appetite, and lethargy. The following breeds are most prone to them: bulldog, sharpei, rottweiler, dalmatian.

How it works

Execan is a combined anti-inflammatory drug. This is a hormonal drug that works due to several active components:

1. Dexamethasone. Synthetic glucocorticoid. Relieves inflammation by reducing the permeability of cell membranes. It acts quickly because, unlike natural glucocorticoids, it is easily absorbed in the intestine and penetrates into tissues.
2. Vitamins PP and B6. They normalize the redox reactions of cells, stabilize metabolism, and improve the condition of the skin and coat.
3. Methionine. Amino acid. Removes toxins from the liver and prevents the accumulation of fat in it due to a lack of choline.

Thanks to the active ingredients, the drug:

• relieves swelling and inflammation;
• eliminates itching;
• normalizes metabolism;
• increases the detoxifying function of the liver;
• promotes tightening of scratches and regrowth of lost hair.

Analogs

Execan is a veterinary hormonal drug that includes additional vitamins and amino acids. Exekan has no complete analogues. If an allergy occurs in a dog, the veterinarian can replace Exekan with the following antihistamines and healing ointments (they do not contain hormones):

• Suprastin;
• Zyrtec;
• Peritol;
• Syntomycin ointment;
• Levomekol.

Execan is a high-quality hormonal antiallergic drug that is used to treat animals. It is able to reduce discomfort (itching, redness, irritation) in a short time. However, it rarely causes side effects.

Instructions for use and dosage

Exekan is given to dogs once a day, at approximately the same time. Some pets eat sugar cubes themselves. If the dog refuses, the briquettes are given by force (placed on the root of the tongue) or crushed and mixed into food and water.

The course of treatment is 12 days. It is divided into two stages: the first lasts 4 days, the second - 8 days. The dosages are different for each of them.

So, in the first 4 days the drugs are given in the following doses:

Over the next 8 days, the dose is halved. So, if a dog weighs 10 kg, at the first stage of treatment she is given 1 sugar cube, at the second - 0.5 bricks.

It is important not to interrupt the therapeutic course. If you forgot to give the next dose, feed it as quickly as possible. Then they continue treatment according to the same regimen and in the same dosages.

The course of treatment cannot be extended. If necessary, the veterinarian may prescribe repeated therapy. But it is carried out at least a month after the end of the previous one.

Contraindications and side effects

Instructions for use classify Execan as a low-hazard drug (hazard class 4 according to GOST 12.1.007–76). But it has a number of limitations and serious negative reactions.

Thus, drugs are prohibited from being given to animals with diabetes mellitus and infectious diseases. Possible side effects:

• vomit;
• ulcer of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines;
• convulsions;
• hypertension - high blood pressure;
• polyphagia - gluttony;
• polydipsia - insatiable thirst;
• polyuria - increased urine production.

The most dangerous negative consequence of taking Execan is Cushing's syndrome. With it, swelling appears, the dog begins to go bald, hypokalemia develops (the amount of calcium ions in the blood decreases) and, subsequently, osteoporosis.

When is Exekan indicated?

The drug Execan eliminates allergies and non-infectious inflammatory diseases:

• flea and seborrheic dermatitis;
• allergic reactions;
• inflammation of joints, connective tissue.

Before giving Execan to a sick dog, it is necessary to conduct a diagnostic examination and understand the nature of the disease. The medicine is not prescribed for viral, bacterial and fungal infections. It worsens the animal’s well-being when:

• diabetes mellitus;
• osteoporosis;
• hypervitaminosis.

The use of the drug is contraindicated in puppies under eight months, pregnant and lactating bitches.

The drug is prescribed to cats for non-infectious skin diseases:

• acute and chronic dermatitis of allergic origin;
• flea and tick dermatitis;
• food allergies, eczema, etc.

Execan relieves inflammation, normalizes metabolism, relieves the liver of toxins and helps relieve skin symptoms (itching goes away, wounds heal, etc.). The drug has all these effects due to the presence of active substances in it:

• dexamethasone relieves inflammatory processes by being absorbed through the intestinal wall;
• vitamins PP and B6 contribute to the restoration of skin cells;
• methionine helps remove excess fat and toxins from the liver.

Execan is contraindicated in the following cases:

• infectious diseases;
• diabetes;
• pregnancy;
• intolerance to the components of the drug.

When treating a cat with Execan (with a violation of the dosage or treatment regimen), the following side effects may be observed:

• vomiting, gastrointestinal ulcers, increased appetite, thirst;
• convulsions;
• increased blood pressure and swelling;
• frequent urination;
• the appearance of bald spots, etc.

It is not advisable to use the drug for pregnant animals, as well as puppies. The presence of diabetes mellitus or an acute viral disease in a dog does not exclude the occurrence of severe vomiting. If possible, in such cases, taking the drug should be postponed or the drug should be replaced.

Side effects from Execan in dogs are usually caused by the action of the main component (dexamethasone). This is a potent substance that is hormonal in nature. Side effects include the following:

1. Decreased immune system function (dexamethasone has an immunosuppressive effect).
2. Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in the form of transient hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus.
3. Osteoporosis, that is, a decrease in bone tissue and increased bone fragility (dexamethasone increases the excretion of calcium from the body and promotes its leaching from the bones).
4. Violation of water-electrolyte metabolism in the form of sodium retention and increased potassium excretion (manifested by edema).
5. Increased blood pressure.
6. Damage to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract (if the dosage is too high).
7. Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation (manifested by increased susceptibility to viral infections).

The following conditions are contraindications to the use of this drug:

1. Bacterial infection (dexamethasone suppresses the immune system, which contributes to the generalization and rapid development of the infectious process).
2. Diabetes.
3. Pregnancy and lactation period.
4. Osteoporosis.
5. Autoimmune lesions in the acute stage.
6. Heart diseases in the stage of decompensation.
7. The use of drugs with a cytostatic effect.

In cases of overdose and sensitivity to the drug, vomiting is possible. Side effects: manifestation of Cushing's syndrome, hypertension, ulcerative lesions of the mucous surface of the gastrointestinal tract, edema, convulsions, diabetes and hepatitis of steroid origin.

Analogues of the drug

There are no completely identical preparations of Execan. But it can be replaced with one of the veterinary drugs with a similar effect.

Also, if you need to quickly relieve your dog’s itching before a visit to the clinic, you can use “human” antihistamines: Suprastin, Zodak, Tavegil, Claritin, etc.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Can Execan be given to pregnant and lactating dogs?

No, taking drugs by puppy dogs is strictly prohibited. This is a hormonal drug: it will negatively affect the condition of the dog, fetuses and born puppies.

How quickly does the medicine take effect?

Acute symptoms disappear within a couple of hours after administering the medication. Usually the itching completely disappears after the second dose. But it is impossible to cancel the drug before the end of the course: the animal’s condition will worsen again.

At what age is it allowed to give the drug to puppies?

The medication is strictly prohibited for dogs under 8 months of age. It’s better not to prescribe it at all until physical development is complete: up to 1–2 years, depending on the breed. The use of Execan at an early age not only disrupts the formation of the body, but can also lead to infertility.

How often to give cubes? Can they be used permanently?

Strictly adhere to the course of treatment specified in the instructions for use. It cannot be interrupted without the permission of the veterinarian and, moreover, extended. Long-term or repeated use, even intermittently, leads to serious pathological changes in the animal’s body.

Contraindications

Due to the fact that Execan is available in the form of a dog treat, some owners mistakenly believe that the medicine can be given to the animal as a preventive measure or without first consulting a veterinarian. In fact, it is strictly contraindicated for dogs that suffer from viral, bacterial or fungal infections. The medicine should not be given to animals suffering from an overdose of B vitamins, pregnant or lactating females.

Other diseases for which it is strictly forbidden to treat a dog with Execan:

• diabetes;
• heart problems;
• osteoporosis.

Sugar briquettes should be given to your dog with great care, only after prior approval from your veterinarian. Since unreasonable use of the medicine can harm the health of the animal.

Failure to comply with dosage rules can lead to the development of ulcers on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, edema and hypokalemia. However, if the veterinarian has calculated a dosage greater than indicated in the instructions, you should not be careful and give the animal an underestimated amount of medicine. In this case, the dog’s recovery process may be delayed, and long-term use of even small doses of Execan leads to intoxication.

In case the daily dose of medicine has been missed, a sugar cube should be given as soon as possible. But if it is time to take the next dose, then giving a double amount of medicine is not recommended.

Attention! It is strictly forbidden to combine Execan with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin. Although the instructions do not prohibit supplementing treatment with external agents designed to quickly eliminate allergy symptoms.

With very long-term use (more than 14 days), it can cause irreversible hormonal and metabolic changes in the dog, so if two-week therapy does not bring any results, you should contact your veterinarian for a different drug.