Death after Penicillin in cats

31 reports to the FDA describe death in cats given Penicillin. That is 28% 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.

31Reports
100%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
100%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
13 42%
1–2 days
9 29%
3–7 days
3 9.7%
1–4 weeks
4 13%
Over a month
2 6.5%

How the animals did

Died
20 65%
Euthanised
11 35%

Problems reported at the same time

Breathing problems
7 23%
Hypothermia
6 19%
Liver problems
5 16%
Kidney problems
5 16%
Cardiac arrest
5 16%
Weight loss
4 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
4
1–3 years
4
4–7 years
3
8–11 years
7
12+ years
10

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Penicillin cause death in cats?
31 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 1 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).

Death with similar medicines

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