Malodour after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

The FDA has received 38 reports of malodour in dogs after Dexmedetomidine. That is 0.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

38Reports

66%Marked serious

26%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 27%

1–2 days

10 33%

3–7 days

5 17%

1–4 weeks

6 20%

Over a month

1 3.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 26%

Still unwell when reported

5 13%

Died

3 7.9%

Euthanised

2 5.3%

Not known

18 47%

Problems reported at the same time

Injection site reaction

32 84%

27 71%

21 55%

12 32%

12 32%

12 32%

Limb non-weight bearing

12 32%

Lethargy

11 29%

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 malodour in dogs?: 38 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).

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