Tarry or black stool after Famotidine in dogs

The FDA has received 56 reports of tarry or black stool in dogs after Famotidine. That is 2.1% 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.

56Reports

57%Marked serious

20%Recovered

32%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 8.3%

1–2 days

13 27%

3–7 days

12 25%

1–4 weeks

10 21%

Over a month

9 19%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 20%

Still unwell when reported

21 38%

Died

4 7.1%

Euthanised

14 25%

Not known

6 11%

Problems reported at the same time

34 61%

34 61%

28 50%

25 45%

20 36%

20 36%

19 34%

18 32%

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 tarry or black stool in dogs?: 56 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 5 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).

Tarry or black stool with similar medicines

Tarry or black stool after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 26 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Tarry or black stool after Butorphanol 24 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Tarry or black stool after Tramadol 48 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Tarry or black stool after Sucralfate 58 reports · 5.9% of its reports
Tarry or black stool after Omeprazole 22 reports · 2.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Famotidine in dogs · Medicines most reported with tarry or black stool