Death after Praziquantel in dogs

The FDA has received 50 reports of death in dogs after Praziquantel. That is 4.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

50Reports

48%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

98%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 22%

1–2 days

9 39%

3–7 days

1 4.3%

1–4 weeks

4 17%

Over a month

4 17%

How the animals did

Died

40 80%

Euthanised

9 18%

Not known

1 2.0%

Problems reported at the same time

16 32%

16 32%

14 28%

9 18%

Seizures

8 16%

Itching

4 8.0%

Drooling

4 8.0%

Breathing problems

4 8.0%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Praziquantel treats tapeworms.

Questions owners ask

Can Praziquantel cause death in dogs?: 50 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 2 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 896 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Death after Febantel + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Drontal Plus) 214 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Death after Fenbendazole 512 reports · 8.7% of its reports
Death after Pyrantel 693 reports · 14% of its reports
Death after Praziquantel + Pyrantel 244 reports · 6.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Praziquantel in dogs · Medicines most reported with death