Tachycardia after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in dogs

The FDA has received 173 reports of tachycardia in dogs after Dexmedetomidine. That is 3.2% 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.

173Reports

56%Marked serious

31%Recovered

32%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

89 68%

1–2 days

10 7.7%

3–7 days

11 8.5%

1–4 weeks

10 7.7%

Over a month

10 7.7%

How the animals did

Recovered

54 31%

Still unwell when reported

26 15%

Died

37 21%

Euthanised

18 10%

Not known

38 22%

Problems reported at the same time

55 32%

50 29%

43 25%

39 23%

35 20%

34 20%

33 19%

32 18%

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 tachycardia in dogs?: 173 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 the same 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).

Tachycardia with similar medicines

Tachycardia after Buprenorphine 79 reports · 5.0% of its reports

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