Bradycardia after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

597 reports to the FDA describe bradycardia in dogs given Dexmedetomidine. That is 11% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

597Reports

45%Marked serious

52%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

381 95%

1–2 days

6 1.5%

3–7 days

2 0.5%

1–4 weeks

3 0.7%

Over a month

9 2.2%

How the animals did

Recovered

311 52%

Still unwell when reported

77 13%

Died

67 11%

Euthanised

8 1.3%

Not known

134 22%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

105 18%

75 13%

60 10%

55 9.2%

50 8.4%

47 7.9%

46 7.7%

42 7.0%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

127

4–7 years

163

8–11 years

103

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 bradycardia in dogs?: 597 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).

Bradycardia with similar medicines

Bradycardia after Buprenorphine 71 reports · 4.5% of its reports

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