Cardiac arrest after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

303 reports to the FDA describe cardiac arrest in dogs given Dexmedetomidine. That is 5.5% 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.

303Reports

68%Marked serious

22%Recovered

62%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

184 90%

1–2 days

4 2.0%

3–7 days

4 2.0%

1–4 weeks

7 3.4%

Over a month

6 2.9%

How the animals did

Recovered

67 22%

Still unwell when reported

11 3.6%

Died

179 59%

Euthanised

10 3.3%

Not known

36 12%

Problems reported at the same time

188 62%

67 22%

60 20%

53 17%

27 8.9%

27 8.9%

Didn't work as expected

22 7.3%

Pale mucous membrane

21 6.9%

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 cardiac arrest in dogs?: 303 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

Cardiac arrest after Buprenorphine 63 reports · 4.0% of its reports

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