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Breed profile · FDA CVM July 2026 extract

American Pit Bull Terrier adverse-event record

Adverse-event filings for American Pit Bull Terrier (Dog) in the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA extract. Browse dog breeds, reactions, and outcomes below.

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#91 of 510
by report volume (all breeds)
1,392
FDA CVM reports on file
7.0%
death-coded share of reports
#87 of 275
by death-coded share (≥50 reports)

How the 1,392 reports break down

By recorded gender -- every report on file for American Pit Bull Terrier, no filtering.

Annual report volume

Annual adverse-event report trend Yearly FDA CVM adverse-event report counts for this breed. 117 87.75 58.5 29.25 0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Reports filed Death-coded reports
Annual report volume for American Pit Bull Terrier drawn from FDA CVM filings.

Data updated September 2026

The verdict

According to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA adverse-event extract, American Pit Bull Terrier ranks #91 of 510 by total reports (1,392) and #87 of 275 by death-coded share (7.0%). National dual: Retriever - Labrador is #1 of 510 by total adverse-event reports (93,675) at death-coded-share rank 195 of 275 breeds with at least 50 reports (3.7%); separately, Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) is #1 highest death-coded share at 99.0% (report rank #233).

93,675
Retriever - Labrador reports (#1)
99.0%
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) death share (#1)
#91
This breed, reports of 510
#87
This breed, death share of 275

Report volume reflects how common a breed or drug is and how often owners and vets file — not actual risk. Death-coded share ranks are limited to entries with enough reports to be meaningful. The two maps do not agree at #1.

Release-over-release change

What changed in the latest FDA data snapshot

PlainBreed reconstructed the prior snapshot from dated openFDA partitions through 2025 Q4, then compared it with the 2026-07-27 openFDA export. American Pit Bull Terrier has 1,392 reports now versus 1,362 in that prior snapshot: 30 more (2.2%).

Report change
+30
Death-coded reports
+3
Death-coded share
+0.1 pts

This compares reported-event counts in two source snapshots. It does not establish a change in real-world risk, product safety, or disease incidence.

Subscribe to American Pit Bull Terrier changes

Total Reports

1,392

High report volume

Deaths Reported

97

of 1,392 reports

Death-coded share of reports

7.0%

Above-median death-coded share

Avg Age at Report

5.6 yr

26.7 kg avg weight

Breed Safety Scorecard

F (39/100)

A weighted composite across 4 of 4 dimensions, each benchmarked against every tracked breed with at least 200 reports (n=185). Dimensions with insufficient data drop out and their weight redistributes to the rest, so a missing input never silently deflates the score.

Death rate F
7.0%

Share of reports coded as a fatality

Euthanasia rate F
3.8%

Share of reports resulting in euthanasia

Full recovery rate A+
39.3%

Share of reports coded "Recovered/Normal"

5-year trend F
+52%

Change in annual report volume over the last 5 complete years

Death-Coded Outcome Share

American Pit Bull Terrier death-coded reports 7.0%
Cross-breed median

7.0% of 1,392 american pit bull terrier reports involved a death outcome.

How to read this number

Read alongside breed popularity, veterinary access, and owner awareness, these shape how many events ever reach the FDA. The comparison line marks the cross-breed median death-coded share (4.8%) among breeds with 50 or more reports; values above it suggest higher reporting bias toward severe outcomes, not necessarily higher true mortality.

Where American Pit Bull Terrier's death-coded share sits among indexed breeds

Death-coded share of FDA CVM reports, breeds with ≥50 reports (July 2026 extract)

7% 68th percentile Higher share than 68% of 275 indexed breeds

5%–10%: 1 indexed breeds (0%). This entry sits in this band. 20%–25%: 2 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 25%–30%: 3 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 30%–35%: 4 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 35%–40%: 5 indexed breeds (2%). Above this entry. 40%–45%: 6 indexed breeds (2%). Above this entry. 45%–50%: 3 indexed breeds (1%). Above this entry. 50%–55%: 7 indexed breeds (3%). Above this entry. 55%–60%: 7 indexed breeds (3%). Above this entry. 60%–65%: 21 indexed breeds (8%). Above this entry. 65%–70%: 11 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 70%–75%: 15 indexed breeds (5%). Above this entry. 75%–80%: 13 indexed breeds (5%). Above this entry. 80%–85%: 11 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 85%–90%: 12 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 90%–95%: 12 indexed breeds (4%). Above this entry. 95%–100%: 142 indexed breeds (52%). Above this entry. American Pit Bull Terrier 5% 100% every breed with ≥50 FDA reports, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more indexed breeds. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, openFDA adverse event extract (PlainBreed) · July 2026 extract

This histogram uses the same ≥50-report cohort as the highest death-coded share ranking. A higher share means more of this breed's reported events were death-coded, not a mortality rate for living animals.

Average weight at time of report: 26.7 kg (58.9 lbs)

Top Reported Reactions

Vomiting 330
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 171
Emesis 144
Diarrhoea 133
Lack of efficacy - NOS 111
Weight loss 85
Decreased appetite 66
Anorexia 65
Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea 57
Not eating 57
Underdose 56
INEFFECTIVE, HEARTWORM LARVAE 48
Death by euthanasia 47
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - heartworm 46
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - hookworm 45

Most Referenced Drugs

Trilostane 396
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 341
Spinosad 79
Pyrantel Pamoate/Praziquantel 63
Carprofen 63
Ivermectin 272Mcg, Pyrantel Pamoate 228Mg, Praziquantel 228Mg 55
Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel 55
Prednisone 48
Verdinexor 40
Ivermectin 272Mcg, Pyrantel 227Mg 34
Medetomidine Hydrochloride, Vatinoxan Hydrochloride 28
Milbemycin Oxime, Lufenuron 27
Gabapentin 27
Nitenpyram 26
Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew 24

Outcome Breakdown

Outcome Unknown
581 (41.7%)
Recovered/Normal
547 (39.3%)
Ongoing
131 (9.4%)
Euthanized
53 (3.8%)
Died
44 (3.2%)
Recovered with Sequela
37 (2.7%)

Gender Distribution

Female 691 (49.6%)
Male 672 (48.3%)
Unknown 26 (1.9%)
Mixed 3 (0.2%)

Reports by Year

Year Reports Trend
2010 1
2011 37
2012 108
2013 97
2014 199
2015 139
2016 84
2017 47
2018 57
2019 74
2020 63
2021 77
2022 94
2023 84
2024 98
2025 117
2026 16

American Pit Bull Terrier: high death-coded share in the FDA CVM extract

Signature read: 1,392 reports place American Pit Bull Terrier in the upper third of breed filing volume (#91 of 510). According to FDA CVM filings indexed on PlainBreed as of July 2026 extract, American Pit Bull Terrier sits at #91 of 510 by report volume among all breeds and #76 of 298 among dog breeds, with 1,392 reports and 97 (7.0%) death-coded. On death-coded share among breeds with ≥50 reports, it ranks #87 of 275. Mean age at report: 5.6 years, average weight 26.7 kg (58.9 lbs).

Top reported signs: Vomiting (330), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (171), Emesis (144). Most-referenced drug: Trilostane (396 reports), followed by Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (341) and Spinosad (79).

Outcome coding on 1,393 status-recorded reports is dominated by Outcome Unknown (41.7%). Annual submissions ranged 1-2,026 across 17 years on file.

Dog Breeds With a Similar Report Volume

Showing 6 of 297 dog breeds in our dataset, ranked by closest report volume.

Dalmatian
1,356 reports · 4.6% death-coded
Ridgeback - Rhodesian
1,331 reports · 5.2% death-coded
Spaniel - Cocker English
1,321 reports · 2.6% death-coded
Shepherd Dog (unspecified)
1,313 reports · 3.3% death-coded
Shar Pei
1,304 reports · 7.5% death-coded
Newfoundland
1,299 reports · 7.0% death-coded

Nationwide breeds with similar profiles

High-volume peer sets for American Pit Bull Terrier drawn from openFDA outside the Dog family so the neighborhoods are not species containment (the similar-volume list above stays within species).

Similar death-coded share

Nearest other-species breeds with ≥50 reports (7.0% death-coded here).

Domestic Longhair 7.0% · Cat Snowshoe 7.0% · Cat Warmblood (unspecified) 7.0% · Horse Russian 7.2% · Cat

Similar average weight

Nearest other-species breeds by reported average weight (26.7 kg here).

Mixed (Sheep) 24.9 kg · Sheep Crossbred Caprine/goat 21.7 kg · Goat Fish (other) 32.4 kg · Fish Katahdin 32.4 kg · Sheep

What to do with this dog

A report does not prove a drug caused the reaction, and popular breeds simply generate more reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many FDA adverse event reports involve American Pit Bull Terrier? ▼
There are 1,392 adverse event reports involving American Pit Bull Terrier in the FDA database, of which 97 were death-coded (7.0% of those reports). That is a share of REPORTED events, not a mortality rate for the breed: adverse events reach the FDA when something goes wrong, so the denominator is reports, never the population of animals. According to the same FDA CVM extract, American Pit Bull Terrier ranks #91 of 510 by report volume among all breeds PlainBreed indexes (#76 of 298 among dog breeds).
Where does American Pit Bull Terrier sit among other breeds in PlainBreed's corpus? ▼
According to FDA CVM report volume, American Pit Bull Terrier is #91 of 510 breeds indexed on PlainBreed (same ordering as the most-reported-breeds ranking). Inside Dog, it is #76 of 298. Among breeds with at least 50 reports, its death-coded share ranks #87 of 275 (same cohort as highest-death-rate). These are placement ranks in the reporting corpus, not clinical risk scores.
What are the most common adverse reactions reported for American Pit Bull Terrier? ▼
The most commonly reported adverse reactions for American Pit Bull Terrier are Vomiting (330 reports), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (171 reports), Emesis (144 reports), Diarrhoea (133 reports), Lack of efficacy - NOS (111 reports).
What drugs are most frequently associated with American Pit Bull Terrier adverse events? ▼
The drugs most frequently referenced in American Pit Bull Terrier adverse event reports are Trilostane (396 reports), Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (341 reports), Spinosad (79 reports), Pyrantel Pamoate/Praziquantel (63 reports), Carprofen (63 reports).
What is the average age of American Pit Bull Terrier in adverse event reports? ▼
The average age of American Pit Bull Terrier at the time of adverse event reports is 5.6 years, with an average weight of 26.7 kg (58.9 lbs).

Compare a breed's report volume against how common the breed is before drawing conclusions. See our methodology for how the death-coded share and rankings are computed, or read breed-specific reporting patterns and FDA CVM reporting.

Source: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (CVM AER) · 2025

openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (FDA CVM) for American Pit Bull Terrier (Dog), extract as of July 2026 extract. 1,392 reports · 97 death-coded (7.0% of reports, not a mortality rate) · #91 of 510 by volume.

Informational only. FDA adverse-event reports are voluntary and do not prove causation; consult a veterinarian before acting on them. Verify with FDA CVM →