Leucocytosis after Diphenhydramine in dogs

The FDA has received 159 reports of leucocytosis in dogs after Diphenhydramine. That is 3.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

159Reports
82%Marked serious
11%Recovered
33%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
60 43%
1–2 days
20 14%
3–7 days
21 15%
1–4 weeks
18 13%
Over a month
22 16%

How the animals did

Recovered
16 10%
Recovered with lasting effects
1 0.6%
Still unwell when reported
79 50%
Died
19 12%
Euthanised
33 21%
Not known
11 6.9%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
19
1–3 years
46
4–7 years
32
8–11 years
47
12+ years
15

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Diphenhydramine cause leucocytosis in dogs?
159 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).

Leucocytosis with similar medicines

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