Diarrhea after Buprenorphine in dogs

260 reports to the FDA describe diarrhea in dogs given Buprenorphine. That is 16% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

260Reports

75%Marked serious

21%Recovered

31%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

64 28%

1–2 days

67 29%

3–7 days

30 13%

1–4 weeks

27 12%

Over a month

41 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

54 21%

Still unwell when reported

89 34%

Died

25 9.6%

Euthanised

55 21%

Not known

37 14%

Problems reported at the same time

158 61%

143 55%

121 47%

82 32%

80 31%

57 22%

56 22%

48 18%

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 diarrhea in dogs?: 260 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).

Diarrhea with similar medicines

Diarrhea after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 392 reports · 7.2% of its reports

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