Behaviour change after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

The FDA has received 143 reports of behaviour change in dogs after Dexmedetomidine. That is 2.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines.

143Reports

49%Marked serious

27%Recovered

17%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

62 54%

1–2 days

21 18%

3–7 days

10 8.7%

1–4 weeks

10 8.7%

Over a month

12 10%

How the animals did

Recovered

38 27%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.7%

Still unwell when reported

46 32%

Died

19 13%

Euthanised

6 4.2%

Not known

33 23%

Problems reported at the same time

37 26%

29 20%

29 20%

26 18%

23 16%

Didn't work as expected

21 15%

Seizures

16 11%

Vocalising

16 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Dexmedetomidine sedation and pain relief (also an oral gel for noise anxiety).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Dexmedetomidine cause behaviour change in dogs?: 143 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Buprenorphine 75 reports · 4.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexmedetomidine in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change