Total Reports
17,328
FDA CVM filings
Dog /
FDA CVM · 2025 release 17,328 reports on file
Pit Bull - FDA Adverse Event Profile
Adverse-event records for Pit Bull (Dog) from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Data updated June 2026
The record at a glance
Pit Bull's FDA record: #12 most-reported dog breed, 17,328 total reports, 3.1% death-coded (540 reports).
- #12
- most-reported dog breed
- 3.1%
- death-coded report share
- 3,453
- Vomiting - top reaction
- 4.0 yr
- average age at report
Higher volume usually means a more popular breed, not a riskier one, compare against how common the breed is.
Deaths Reported
540
of 17,328 reports
Death Rate
3.1%
death-coded share
Avg Age at Report
4.0 yr
26.4 kg avg weight
Death-Coded Outcome Share
Pit Bull death-coded reports 3.1%
Cross-breed median
3.1% of 17,328 pit bull 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 (about 4.8%) among breeds with 50 or more reports; values above it suggest higher reporting bias toward severe outcomes, not necessarily higher true mortality.
Average weight at time of report: 26.4 kg (58.2 lbs)
Top Reported Reactions
Vomiting 3,453
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - heartworm 2,152
Emesis 1,693
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 1,340
Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea 1,219
INEFFECTIVE, HEARTWORM LARVAE 1,210
Diarrhoea 1,069
Lack of efficacy - NOS 827
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - hookworm 653
Anorexia 465
Emesis (multiple) 441
Not eating 374
Seizure NOS 369
INEFFECTIVE, HOOKS 352
Ataxia 351
Most Referenced Drugs
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 4,469
Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt 2,672
Spinosad 1,395
Afoxolaner 1,212
Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel 1,187
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 883
Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew 607
Nitenpyram 438
Imidacloprid + Moxidectin 389
Melarsomine Dihydrochloride 285
Ivermectin 278
Ivermectin + Pyrantel 262
Melarsomine Dihydrochloride Injection 249
Tigilanol Tiglate 247
Lotilaner 245
Outcome Breakdown
Outcome Unknown
6,679 (40.9%)
Recovered/Normal
5,370 (32.9%)
Ongoing
2,706 (16.6%)
Recovered with Sequela
1,020 (6.3%)
Died
332 (2.0%)
Euthanized
212 (1.3%)
Gender Distribution
Male 8,531 (49.2%)
Female 8,479 (48.9%)
Unknown 257 (1.5%)
Mixed 61 (0.4%)
Reports by Year
| Year | Reports | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 547 | |
| 2011 | 529 | |
| 2012 | 874 | |
| 2013 | 1,268 | |
| 2014 | 1,153 | |
| 2015 | 1,364 | |
| 2016 | 1,415 | |
| 2017 | 1,521 | |
| 2018 | 1,363 | |
| 2019 | 1,368 | |
| 2020 | 1,364 | |
| 2021 | 1,144 | |
| 2022 | 969 | |
| 2023 | 912 | |
| 2024 | 919 | |
| 2025 | 618 | |
Pit Bull Pet Health Insights
Pit Bull accounts for 17,328 FDA adverse event reports, ranking #12 by volume among dog breeds, with 540 reports (3.1%) coded as a death outcome. Mean age at report: 4.0 years, average weight 26.4 kg (58.2 lbs).
Top reported signs: Vomiting (3,453), Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - heartworm (2,152), Emesis (1,693). Most-referenced drug: Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (4,469 reports), followed by Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt (2,672) and Spinosad (1,395).
Outcome coding on 16,319 status-recorded reports is dominated by Outcome Unknown (40.9%). Annual submissions ranged 2,010-2,025 across 16 years on file.
Dog Breeds With a Similar Report Volume
Beagle
17,507 reports · 3.6% death rate
Boxer (German Boxer)
19,011 reports · 4.4% death rate
Shepherd Dog - Australian
15,583 reports · 3.7% death rate
Maltese
13,674 reports · 3.2% death rate
Terrier (unspecified)
13,509 reports · 3.0% death rate
Dachshund (unspecified)
13,165 reports · 4.5% death rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How many FDA adverse event reports involve Pit Bull? ▼
There are 17,328 adverse event reports involving Pit Bull in the FDA database, with 540 reports involving death (3.1% death rate). Pit Bull ranks #12 by report volume.
What are the most common adverse reactions reported for Pit Bull? ▼
The most commonly reported adverse reactions for Pit Bull are Vomiting (3,453 reports), Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - heartworm (2,152 reports), Emesis (1,693 reports), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (1,340 reports), Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (1,219 reports).
What drugs are most frequently associated with Pit Bull adverse events? ▼
The drugs most frequently referenced in Pit Bull adverse event reports are Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (4,469 reports), Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt (2,672 reports), Spinosad (1,395 reports), Afoxolaner (1,212 reports), Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (1,187 reports).
What is the average age of Pit Bull in adverse event reports? ▼
The average age of Pit Bull at the time of adverse event reports is 4.0 years, with an average weight of 26.4 kg (58.2 lbs).
Does a high number of adverse event reports mean Pit Bull is unhealthy? ▼
No. FDA adverse event reports are voluntarily submitted and do not prove causation. Popular breeds with more veterinary visits tend to have more reports. The data reflects reporting patterns, not actual incidence rates. Always consult a veterinarian for health decisions.
Where does this Pit Bull safety data come from? ▼
All data comes from the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine's adverse event reporting system. Pet owners, veterinarians, and manufacturers voluntarily submit reports about adverse events potentially linked to animal drugs and other products.
Compare a breed's report volume against how common the breed is before drawing conclusions. See our methodology for how death rate and rankings are computed.
Every figure on PlainBreed is rendered directly from FDA openFDA adverse event data, no number is typed in by an editor. Breed figures are computed directly from FDA openFDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.