Urinary incontinence after Gabapentin in dogs

The FDA has received 306 reports of urinary incontinence in dogs after Gabapentin. That is 3.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

306Reports

68%Marked serious

6.9%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

30 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

30 13%

1–2 days

20 8.5%

3–7 days

24 10%

1–4 weeks

45 19%

Over a month

116 49%

How the animals did

Recovered

21 6.9%

Still unwell when reported

170 56%

Died

8 2.6%

Euthanised

69 23%

Not known

38 12%

Problems reported at the same time

77 25%

63 21%

62 20%

59 19%

55 18%

50 16%

47 15%

46 15%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

109

12+ years

152

About this medicine

Gabapentin used for pain and to reduce stress or anxiety.

Questions owners ask

Can Gabapentin cause urinary incontinence in dogs?: 306 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 30 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).

Urinary incontinence with similar medicines

Urinary incontinence after Selegiline (Anipryl) 47 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Trazodone 50 reports · 2.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Gabapentin in dogs · Medicines most reported with urinary incontinence