Inappropriate urination after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

The FDA has received 42 reports of inappropriate urination in dogs after Dexmedetomidine. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

42Reports

57%Marked serious

26%Recovered

17%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 40%

1–2 days

7 20%

3–7 days

4 11%

1–4 weeks

6 17%

Over a month

4 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 26%

Still unwell when reported

15 36%

Died

2 4.8%

Euthanised

5 12%

Not known

9 21%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

17 40%

Loss of appetite

11 26%

Vomiting

11 26%

Didn't work as expected

10 24%

9 21%

8 19%

7 17%

7 17%

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 inappropriate urination in dogs?: 42 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).

Inappropriate urination with similar medicines

Inappropriate urination after Buprenorphine 29 reports · 1.8% of its reports

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