Lameness after Enrofloxacin (Baytril) in cats

The FDA has received 40 reports of lameness in cats after Enrofloxacin. That is 2.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

40Reports

40%Marked serious

15%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 22%

1–2 days

4 22%

3–7 days

3 17%

1–4 weeks

6 33%

Over a month

1 5.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 2.5%

Still unwell when reported

3 7.5%

Died

1 2.5%

Euthanised

6 15%

Not known

24 60%

Problems reported at the same time

Injection site reaction

11 28%

7 18%

6 15%

6 15%

6 15%

Hind limb paresis

5 13%

Behaviour change

5 13%

Vomiting

4 10%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Enrofloxacin treats bacterial infections.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Enrofloxacin cause lameness in cats?: 40 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 5 days 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Cefovecin (Convenia) 141 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Lameness after Amoxicillin + Clavulanate (Clavamox) 20 reports · 0.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Enrofloxacin in cats · Medicines most reported with lameness