Lameness after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

96 reports to the FDA describe lameness in dogs given Dexmedetomidine. That is 1.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

96Reports

57%Marked serious

18%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

24 30%

1–2 days

25 31%

3–7 days

11 14%

1–4 weeks

12 15%

Over a month

9 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 17%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.0%

Still unwell when reported

18 19%

Died

10 10%

Euthanised

8 8.3%

Not known

43 45%

Problems reported at the same time

Swelling

60 63%

Injection site reaction

54 56%

Loss of appetite

39 41%

Didn't work as expected

32 33%

30 31%

28 29%

21 22%

21 22%

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 lameness in dogs?: 96 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Buprenorphine 40 reports · 2.5% of its reports

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