Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for apnoea

945 FDA adverse-event reports reference apnoea (VeDDRA 830). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

945
reports citing this reaction
54.3%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride
most-associated drug
Verify with FDA CVM →
945
Total Reports
513
Deaths
54.3%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 601
Cat 279
Horse 16
Other 16
Rabbit 8
Mouse 4
Turtle 4
Cattle 2
Alpaca 2
Other Reptiles 2

Breeds Most Affected

Domestic (unspecified) 105
Dog (unknown) 64
Domestic Shorthair 63
Cat (unknown) 55
Crossbred Canine/dog 50
Retriever - Labrador 40
Unknown 37
Shih Tzu 36
Chihuahua 35
Retriever - Golden 18

Associated Drugs

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride 163
Propofol 156
Isoflurane 151
Ketamine Hydrochloride 96
Butorphanol 88
Butorphanol Tartrate 56
Dexmedetomidine 48
Ketamine 46
Alfaxalone 46
Carprofen 44
Sevoflurane 33
Midazolam 32
Maropitant Citrate 31
Hydromorphone 30
Buprenorphine 29
Tiletamine, Zolazepam 28
Acepromazine Maleate 27
Atipamezole Hydrochloride 25
Moxidectin 21
Gabapentin 21

Apnoea Reaction Insights

945 reports name Apnoea; 513 recorded a death outcome (54.3% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 830.

By species: Dog (601 reports), Cat (279 reports), Horse (16 reports). By breed: Domestic (unspecified) (105), Dog (unknown) (64), Domestic Shorthair (63).

Most co-reported drugs: Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride (163 reports), Propofol (156 reports), Isoflurane (151 reports), Ketamine Hydrochloride (96 reports).

Read these counts as reporting volume, not risk: per our methodology, co-reporting reflects temporal association captured in voluntary submissions, not proof that a drug caused this reaction. A widely-prescribed drug will rack up more raw co-reports at an identical true rate than a rarely-used one, so compare within similar-exposure products.

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.