Cardiac arrest after Diazepam in dogs

The FDA has received 36 reports of cardiac arrest in dogs after Diazepam. That is 5.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

36Reports
100%Marked serious
25%Recovered
69%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
23 70%
1–2 days
4 12%
3–7 days
1 3.0%
1–4 weeks
1 3.0%
Over a month
4 12%

How the animals did

Recovered
9 25%
Still unwell when reported
1 2.8%
Died
22 61%
Euthanised
3 8.3%
Not known
1 2.8%

Problems reported at the same time

25 69%
12 33%
Respiratory arrest
11 31%
Apnoea
5 14%
Abnormal electrocardiogram (ecg)
5 14%
Cyanosis
4 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
7
1–3 years
7
4–7 years
7
8–11 years
6
12+ years
6

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Diazepam cause cardiac arrest in dogs?
36 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Diazepam in dogs · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest