Blood problems after Buprenorphine in dogs

The FDA has received 130 reports of blood problems in dogs after Buprenorphine. That is 8.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.8% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

130Reports

84%Marked serious

15%Recovered

49%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

27 23%

1–2 days

28 24%

3–7 days

24 21%

1–4 weeks

20 17%

Over a month

16 14%

How the animals did

Recovered

20 15%

Still unwell when reported

37 28%

Died

16 12%

Euthanised

48 37%

Not known

9 6.9%

Problems reported at the same time

75 58%

72 55%

68 52%

66 51%

64 49%

49 38%

48 37%

34 26%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Buprenorphine pain relief (an opioid).

Questions owners ask

Can Buprenorphine cause blood problems in dogs?: 130 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).

Blood problems with similar medicines

Blood problems after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 109 reports · 2.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in dogs · Medicines most reported with blood problems