Cardiac arrest after Ampicillin in dogs

32 reports to the FDA describe cardiac arrest in dogs given Ampicillin. That is 3.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

32Reports
94%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
94%Died or euthanised
2 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
11 39%
1–2 days
7 25%
3–7 days
4 14%
1–4 weeks
3 11%
Over a month
3 11%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported
1 3.1%
Died
27 84%
Euthanised
3 9.4%
Not known
1 3.1%

Problems reported at the same time

31 97%
10 31%
Respiratory arrest
9 28%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
7
1–3 years
6
4–7 years
6
8–11 years
7
12+ years
6

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ampicillin cause cardiac arrest in dogs?
32 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 2 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Ampicillin in dogs · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest