Death after Fenbendazole in cats

The FDA has received 60 reports of death in cats after Fenbendazole. That is 21% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

60Reports

73%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 33%

1–2 days

7 18%

3–7 days

14 35%

1–4 weeks

5 13%

Over a month

1 2.5%

How the animals did

Died

50 83%

Euthanised

10 17%

Problems reported at the same time

Vomiting

11 18%

Breathing problems

10 17%

Lethargy

9 15%

Seizures

8 13%

Diarrhea

7 12%

Loss of appetite

7 12%

Kidney problems

7 12%

Blood problems

6 10%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Fenbendazole treats intestinal worms and some other parasites.

Questions owners ask

Can Fenbendazole cause death in cats?: 60 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 3 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Emodepside + Praziquantel (Profender) 270 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Death after Praziquantel 101 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Death after Praziquantel + Pyrantel 81 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Death after Pyrantel 110 reports · 20% of its reports

All reported side effects of Fenbendazole in cats · Medicines most reported with death