Drug profile

The FDA adverse-event record for Chitosan

11 adverse-event reports submitted to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine reference Chitosan. See the species affected, top reactions, and outcomes below.

11
adverse-event reports
18.2%
death-coded share
Dog
most-reported species
4
Lack of efficacy - NOS - top reaction
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Important: Adverse event reports do not establish that a drug caused or contributed to the event. Consult your veterinarian before making treatment decisions.
11
Total Reports
2
Deaths Reported
18.2%
Death Rate

Active Ingredients

Chitosan

Administration Routes

UnknownOral

Species Affected

Dog 6
Cat 5

Most Affected Breeds

Domestic Shorthair 4
Schnauzer - Miniature 3
Retriever - Labrador 1
Siamese 1
Spaniel - King Charles Cavalier 1
Retriever - Golden 1

Most Reported Reactions

Lack of efficacy - NOS 4
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 3
Seizure NOS 2
Emesis (multiple) 2
Elevated renal parameters 2
Vomiting 2
Dehydration 2
Other abnormal test result NOS 2
Abnormal ultrasound finding 2
Proteinuria 2
Tiredness 1
Bacterial skin infection NOS 1

Outcome Breakdown

Ongoing
5 (45.5%)
Outcome Unknown
3 (27.3%)
Recovered/Normal
1 (9.1%)
Euthanized
1 (9.1%)
Died
1 (9.1%)

Chitosan Adverse Event Insights

11 reports name Chitosan; 2 recorded a death outcome (18.2% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). Active ingredient: Chitosan. Administration routes: Unknown, Oral.

By species: Dog (6 reports), Cat (5 reports). By breed: Domestic Shorthair (4), Schnauzer - Miniature (3), Retriever - Labrador (1).

Leading clinical signs: Lack of efficacy - NOS (4), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (3), Seizure NOS (2), Emesis (multiple) (2). Outcome, 11 coded reports: Ongoing leads at 45.5%.

Read these counts as reporting volume, not risk: per our methodology, a widely-prescribed drug will rack up more raw FDA reports in a given year than a rarely-used one at an identical true rate, so we recommend comparing within similar-exposure products rather than across the full 2025 catalog.

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

Every figure on PlainBreed is rendered directly from FDA openFDA adverse event data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on 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.