Breathing problems after Buprenorphine in dogs

The FDA has received 241 reports of breathing problems in dogs after Buprenorphine. That is 15% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

241Reports

81%Marked serious

17%Recovered

38%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

107 47%

1–2 days

46 20%

3–7 days

16 7.1%

1–4 weeks

19 8.4%

Over a month

38 17%

How the animals did

Recovered

42 17%

Still unwell when reported

87 36%

Died

50 21%

Euthanised

42 17%

Not known

20 8.3%

Problems reported at the same time

92 38%

92 38%

80 33%

79 33%

56 23%

56 23%

Abnormal radiograph finding

48 20%

Swelling

41 17%

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 breathing problems in dogs?: 241 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 317 reports · 5.8% of its reports

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