Fever after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

The FDA has received 258 reports of fever in cats after Dexmedetomidine. That is 9.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 3.2% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

258Reports

44%Marked serious

38%Recovered

8.9%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

180 77%

1–2 days

25 11%

3–7 days

13 5.6%

1–4 weeks

11 4.7%

Over a month

5 2.1%

How the animals did

Recovered

96 37%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.4%

Still unwell when reported

97 38%

Died

20 7.8%

Euthanised

3 1.2%

Not known

41 16%

Problems reported at the same time

47 18%

42 16%

42 16%

23 8.9%

Restlessness or agitation

23 8.9%

Behaviour change

21 8.1%

Liver problems

18 7.0%

Swelling

17 6.6%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Dexmedetomidine sedation and pain relief (also an oral gel for noise anxiety).

Products with this ingredient include Dexdomitor, Sileo. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Dexmedetomidine cause fever in cats?: 258 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Fever with similar medicines

Fever after Buprenorphine 683 reports · 12% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexmedetomidine in cats · Medicines most reported with fever