Cardiac arrest after Butorphanol in dogs

The FDA has received 218 reports of cardiac arrest in dogs after Butorphanol. That is 4.9% 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.

218Reports
80%Marked serious
24%Recovered
68%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
151 88%
1–2 days
3 1.8%
3–7 days
5 2.9%
1–4 weeks
6 3.5%
Over a month
6 3.5%

How the animals did

Recovered
52 24%
Still unwell when reported
6 2.8%
Died
136 62%
Euthanised
12 5.5%
Not known
12 5.5%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
59
1–3 years
44
4–7 years
48
8–11 years
37
12+ years
11

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Butorphanol cause cardiac arrest in dogs?
218 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 the same 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

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