Corneal ulcer after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in dogs

The FDA has received 103 reports of corneal ulcer in dogs after Cyclosporine. That is 0.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

103Reports

67%Marked serious

15%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 46%

1–2 days

5 8.8%

3–7 days

2 3.5%

1–4 weeks

15 26%

Over a month

9 16%

How the animals did

Recovered

12 12%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 2.9%

Still unwell when reported

20 19%

Died

6 5.8%

Euthanised

6 5.8%

Not known

56 54%

Problems reported at the same time

Ocular discharge

35 34%

Squinting

33 32%

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

32 31%

29 28%

28 27%

26 25%

23 22%

22 21%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Cyclosporine controls allergic skin disease and some immune conditions.

Products with this ingredient include Atopica. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Cyclosporine cause corneal ulcer in dogs?: 103 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 1 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).

Corneal ulcer with similar medicines

Corneal ulcer after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) 137 reports · 0.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Cyclosporine in dogs · Medicines most reported with corneal ulcer