my vet says and im sure hes right dex lowers the imune system and should be given with penicilin..... i usally give 2 cc the night before a hunt and if i give dex i add 2 cc of pen again per his instructions.........i have persoanlly made that mistake in va with dead game in water which had been there for days plus the urine of the game being in the water killed 2 of the best dogs ive ever owned...........i know because i paid for the dogs to be examined ..results dex lowered the imune level to allow a infection to become toxic...my loss ur gain if u choose to belive me....i doesnt have to be dead rotting game just any little infection while the dog is in the stress mode of running and contracts a infection or virus..