Ocular discharge after Cephalexin in dogs

The FDA has received 22 reports of ocular discharge in dogs after Cephalexin. That is 0.8% 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.

22Reports

50%Marked serious

9.1%Recovered

9.1%Died or euthanised

20 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

2 13%

1–2 days

3 20%

3–7 days

1 6.7%

1–4 weeks

2 13%

Over a month

7 47%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 9.1%

Still unwell when reported

10 45%

Died

1 4.5%

Euthanised

1 4.5%

Not known

8 36%

Problems reported at the same time

10 45%

7 32%

6 27%

6 27%

5 23%

Didn't work as expected

5 23%

Skin rash or irritation

4 18%

Cough

4 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Cephalexin cause ocular discharge in dogs?: 22 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 20 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).

Ocular discharge with similar medicines

Ocular discharge after Melarsomine (Immiticide) 23 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Diphenhydramine 52 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Cefpodoxime 32 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 216 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Clotrimazole + Gentamicin + Mometasone 21 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Betamethasone + Florfenicol + Terbinafine 46 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Ketoconazole 66 reports · 2.9% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Etodolac 25 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Neomycin 23 reports · 5.2% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Neomycin + Polymyxin B 26 reports · 13% of its reports

All reported side effects of Cephalexin in dogs · Medicines most reported with ocular discharge