Cardiac arrest after Isoflurane in dogs

The FDA has received 233 reports of cardiac arrest in dogs after Isoflurane. That is 8.4% 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.

233Reports
73%Marked serious
15%Recovered
75%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
124 84%
1–2 days
6 4.1%
3–7 days
3 2.0%
1–4 weeks
9 6.1%
Over a month
6 4.1%

How the animals did

Recovered
35 15%
Still unwell when reported
9 3.9%
Died
163 70%
Euthanised
11 4.7%
Not known
15 6.4%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
64
1–3 years
47
4–7 years
44
8–11 years
47
12+ years
7

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Isoflurane cause cardiac arrest in dogs?
233 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 the same 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Isoflurane in dogs · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest