Decreased haemoglobin after Famotidine in dogs

The FDA has received 26 reports of decreased haemoglobin in dogs after Famotidine. That is 1.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

26Reports

85%Marked serious

15%Recovered

42%Died or euthanised

17 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

3 14%

1–2 days

2 9.1%

3–7 days

3 14%

1–4 weeks

9 41%

Over a month

5 23%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 15%

Still unwell when reported

7 27%

Died

4 15%

Euthanised

7 27%

Not known

4 15%

Problems reported at the same time

Decreased red blood cell count

19 73%

16 62%

14 54%

12 46%

12 46%

11 42%

10 38%

Decreased haematocrit

10 38%

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 Famotidine cause decreased haemoglobin in dogs?: 26 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 17 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).

Decreased haemoglobin with similar medicines

Decreased haemoglobin after Diphenhydramine 30 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Decreased haemoglobin after Cefpodoxime 23 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Decreased haemoglobin after Ampicillin 22 reports · 2.3% of its reports
Decreased haemoglobin after Ondansetron 23 reports · 3.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Famotidine in dogs · Medicines most reported with decreased haemoglobin