Hypercalcaemia after Famotidine in dogs

20 reports to the FDA describe hypercalcaemia in dogs given Famotidine. That is 0.8% 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.

20Reports

65%Marked serious

10%Recovered

45%Died or euthanised

8 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

2 12%

1–2 days

5 29%

3–7 days

1 5.9%

1–4 weeks

5 29%

Over a month

4 24%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 10%

Still unwell when reported

6 30%

Died

3 15%

Euthanised

6 30%

Not known

3 15%

Problems reported at the same time

15 75%

14 70%

11 55%

11 55%

11 55%

10 50%

9 45%

7 35%

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 hypercalcaemia in dogs?: 20 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 8 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).

Hypercalcaemia with similar medicines

Hypercalcaemia after Melarsomine (Immiticide) 21 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Hypercalcaemia after Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate 27 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Hypercalcaemia after Chondroitin + Glucosamine 21 reports · 0.8% of its reports

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