Hypothermia after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

128 reports to the FDA describe hypothermia in cats given Dexmedetomidine. That is 4.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.2% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

128Reports

57%Marked serious

19%Recovered

33%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

79 78%

1–2 days

13 13%

3–7 days

3 3.0%

1–4 weeks

4 4.0%

Over a month

2 2.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 19%

Still unwell when reported

35 27%

Died

31 24%

Euthanised

11 8.6%

Not known

27 21%

Problems reported at the same time

42 33%

40 31%

27 21%

26 20%

25 20%

22 17%

19 15%

17 13%

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 hypothermia in cats?: 128 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).

Hypothermia with similar medicines

Hypothermia after Buprenorphine 224 reports · 4.0% of its reports

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