Hypochloraemia after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

The FDA has received 34 reports of hypochloraemia in dogs after Dexmedetomidine. That is 0.6% 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.

34Reports

88%Marked serious

29%Recovered

26%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

7 23%

1–2 days

9 30%

3–7 days

3 10%

1–4 weeks

4 13%

Over a month

7 23%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 29%

Still unwell when reported

10 29%

Died

6 18%

Euthanised

3 8.8%

Not known

5 15%

Problems reported at the same time

28 82%

22 65%

19 56%

19 56%

18 53%

17 50%

13 38%

13 38%

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 hypochloraemia in dogs?: 34 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 2 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).

Hypochloraemia with similar medicines

Hypochloraemia after Buprenorphine 35 reports · 2.2% of its reports

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