Diarrhea after Phenobarbital in dogs

The FDA has received 95 reports of diarrhea in dogs after Phenobarbital. That is 6.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

95Reports
60%Marked serious
24%Recovered
16%Died or euthanised
7 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
13 27%
1–2 days
7 15%
3–7 days
6 13%
1–4 weeks
5 10%
Over a month
17 35%

How the animals did

Recovered
16 17%
Recovered with lasting effects
7 7.4%
Still unwell when reported
32 34%
Died
4 4.2%
Euthanised
11 12%
Not known
25 26%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
2
1–3 years
12
4–7 years
19
8–11 years
39
12+ years
23

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Phenobarbital cause diarrhea in dogs?
95 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 7 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).

Diarrhea with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Phenobarbital in dogs · Medicines most reported with diarrhea