Pain after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

The FDA has received 142 reports of pain in dogs after Dexmedetomidine. That is 2.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

142Reports

54%Marked serious

18%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

29 25%

1–2 days

39 33%

3–7 days

20 17%

1–4 weeks

18 15%

Over a month

12 10%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 17%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.7%

Still unwell when reported

28 20%

Died

17 12%

Euthanised

10 7.0%

Not known

62 44%

Problems reported at the same time

Injection site reaction

71 50%

Swelling

66 46%

Loss of appetite

64 45%

Lethargy

38 27%

Didn't work as expected

38 27%

Breathing problems

35 25%

Wound

32 23%

Swollen limb

32 23%

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 pain in dogs?: 142 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).

Pain with similar medicines

Pain after Buprenorphine 121 reports · 7.6% of its reports

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