Kidney problems after Diphenhydramine in dogs

The FDA has received 221 reports of kidney problems in dogs after Diphenhydramine. That is 4.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

221Reports

85%Marked serious

10%Recovered

41%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

78 42%

1–2 days

31 17%

3–7 days

20 11%

1–4 weeks

16 8.6%

Over a month

40 22%

How the animals did

Recovered

22 10.0%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

86 39%

Died

41 19%

Euthanised

50 23%

Not known

21 9.5%

Problems reported at the same time

128 58%

122 55%

119 54%

115 52%

90 41%

68 31%

58 26%

56 25%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Diphenhydramine cause kidney problems in dogs?: 221 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Melarsomine (Immiticide) 434 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Kidney problems after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 319 reports · 5.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Butorphanol 203 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Kidney problems after Cefpodoxime 248 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Kidney problems after Tramadol 441 reports · 12% of its reports
Kidney problems after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 52 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Kidney problems after Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate 253 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Kidney problems after Propofol 143 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Kidney problems after Dirlotapide 78 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Isoflurane 187 reports · 6.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Diphenhydramine in dogs · Medicines most reported with kidney problems