Skin redness after Levothyroxine in dogs

68 reports to the FDA describe skin redness in dogs given Levothyroxine. That is 2.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

68Reports

59%Marked serious

34%Recovered

7.4%Died or euthanised

28 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

3 6.3%

1–2 days

4 8.3%

3–7 days

4 8.3%

1–4 weeks

15 31%

Over a month

22 46%

How the animals did

Recovered

17 25%

Recovered with lasting effects

6 8.8%

Still unwell when reported

22 32%

Died

3 4.4%

Euthanised

2 2.9%

Not known

18 26%

Problems reported at the same time

31 46%

22 32%

14 21%

13 19%

13 19%

13 19%

Skin rash or irritation

12 18%

Didn't work as expected

12 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Levothyroxine treats an underactive thyroid.

Questions owners ask

Can Levothyroxine cause skin redness in dogs?: 68 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 28 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).

Skin redness with similar medicines

Skin redness after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 105 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Skin redness after Insulin 58 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Skin redness after Phenylpropanolamine (Proin) 212 reports · 5.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Levothyroxine in dogs · Medicines most reported with skin redness