Injection site reaction after Buprenorphine in dogs

The FDA has received 189 reports of injection site reaction in dogs after Buprenorphine. That is 12% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

189Reports

58%Marked serious

23%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

62 36%

1–2 days

27 16%

3–7 days

23 14%

1–4 weeks

32 19%

Over a month

26 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

41 22%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.1%

Still unwell when reported

67 35%

Died

9 4.8%

Euthanised

12 6.3%

Not known

58 31%

Problems reported at the same time

Swelling

90 48%

Loss of appetite

49 26%

Lethargy

40 21%

Didn't work as expected

36 19%

35 19%

34 18%

26 14%

26 14%

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 injection site reaction in dogs?: 189 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).

Injection site reaction with similar medicines

Injection site reaction after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 385 reports · 7.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in dogs · Medicines most reported with injection site reaction