Death after Phenylbutazone in horses

35 reports to the FDA describe death in horses given Phenylbutazone. That is 23% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 11% across reports for all horse medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

35Reports
40%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
100%Died or euthanised
6 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
4 36%
1–2 days
0 0.0%
3–7 days
4 36%
1–4 weeks
1 9.1%
Over a month
2 18%

How the animals did

Died
25 71%
Euthanised
10 29%

Problems reported at the same time

Diarrhea
8 23%
Colitis
6 17%
Abdominal pain
6 17%
Seizures
5 14%
Tachycardia
5 14%
Colic
5 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
2
1–3 years
4
4–7 years
8
8–11 years
3
12+ years
13

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Phenylbutazone cause death in horses?
35 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 6 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

All reported side effects of Phenylbutazone in horses · Medicines most reported with death