Skin scab after Levothyroxine in dogs

The FDA has received 23 reports of skin scab in dogs after Levothyroxine. 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.

23Reports

87%Marked serious

17%Recovered

4.3%Died or euthanised

21 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

0 0.0%

1–2 days

1 5.3%

3–7 days

2 11%

1–4 weeks

10 53%

Over a month

6 32%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 17%

Still unwell when reported

6 26%

Euthanised

1 4.3%

Not known

12 52%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

10 43%

Hair loss

9 39%

Skin redness

8 35%

Skin rash or irritation

8 35%

Overdose

6 26%

Didn't work as expected

5 22%

Crust

5 22%

Reddening of the skin

3 13%

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 scab in dogs?: 23 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 21 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 scab with similar medicines

Skin scab after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 28 reports · 0.2% of its reports

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