Drug profile

The FDA adverse-event record for Saline

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

119
adverse-event reports
19.3%
death-coded share
Dog
most-reported species
19
Anorexia - 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.
119
Total Reports
23
Deaths Reported
19.3%
Death Rate

Active Ingredients

Saline

Administration Routes

UnknownIntravenousAuricular (Otic)SubcutaneousOphthalmicIntramuscularNasalOtherIntraocularTopical

Species Affected

Dog 66
Cat 37
Cattle 4
Mouse 3
Rabbit 3
Human 3
Cockatiel 1
Other Birds 1
Horse 1

Most Affected Breeds

Domestic Shorthair 24
Retriever - Labrador 8
Unknown 5
Domestic Longhair 4
Spaniel - Cocker American 4
Maltese 4
Maine Coon 4
Poodle - Miniature 4
Boxer (German Boxer) 3
Pit Bull 3

Most Reported Reactions

Anorexia 19
Ataxia 19
Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') 16
Tympanic rupture 14
Vomiting 13
Head shake - ear disorder 13
Deafness 13
Lack of efficacy - NOS 12
Behavioural disorder NOS 12
Head tilt - ear disorder 12
Ear discharge 12
Nystagmus 12

Outcome Breakdown

Outcome Unknown
55 (45.1%)
Recovered/Normal
29 (23.8%)
Euthanized
12 (9.8%)
Ongoing
11 (9.0%)
Died
11 (9.0%)
Recovered with Sequela
4 (3.3%)

Saline Adverse Event Insights

119 reports name Saline; 23 recorded a death outcome (19.3% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). Active ingredient: Saline. Administration routes: Unknown, Intravenous, Auricular (Otic), Subcutaneous.

By species: Dog (66 reports), Cat (37 reports), Cattle (4 reports). By breed: Domestic Shorthair (24), Retriever - Labrador (8), Unknown (5).

Leading clinical signs: Anorexia (19), Ataxia (19), Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological') (16), Tympanic rupture (14). Outcome, 122 coded reports: Outcome Unknown leads at 45.1%.

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.