Respiratory arrest after Butorphanol in dogs

The FDA has received 86 reports of respiratory arrest in dogs after Butorphanol. That is 1.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.0% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

86Reports
99%Marked serious
40%Recovered
56%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
71 85%
1–2 days
6 7.1%
3–7 days
3 3.6%
1–4 weeks
4 4.8%
Over a month
0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered
34 40%
Still unwell when reported
3 3.5%
Died
42 49%
Euthanised
6 7.0%
Not known
1 1.2%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
19
1–3 years
22
4–7 years
18
8–11 years
16
12+ years
3

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Butorphanol cause respiratory arrest in dogs?
86 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).

Respiratory arrest with similar medicines

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