Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for hyperexcitation

567 FDA adverse-event reports reference hyperexcitation (VeDDRA 122). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

567
reports citing this reaction
7.2%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Ketamine Hydrochloride
most-associated drug
Verify with FDA CVM →
567
Total Reports
41
Deaths
7.2%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 358
Cat 160
Horse 34
Cattle 5
Other 2
Mouse 2
Pig 1
Cockatiel 1
Goat 1
Sheep 1

Breeds Most Affected

Domestic Shorthair 61
Retriever - Labrador 35
Cat (unknown) 34
Dog (unknown) 32
Crossbred Canine/dog 26
Domestic (unspecified) 22
Terrier - Yorkshire 20
Retriever - Golden 16
Quarter Horse 13
Shepherd Dog - Australian 13

Associated Drugs

Ketamine Hydrochloride 51
Buprenorphine 48
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride 38
Propofol 38
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 33
Afoxolaner 31
Spinosad 25
Sarolaner 19
Oclacitinib Maleate 18
Selamectin 17
Isoflurane 14
Butorphanol 14
Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt 14
Maropitant Citrate 14
Tiletamine, Zolazepam 13
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 13
Ivermectin 12
Nitenpyram 12
Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner 11
Butorphanol Tartrate 10

Hyperexcitation Reaction Insights

567 reports name Hyperexcitation; 41 recorded a death outcome (7.2% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 122.

By species: Dog (358 reports), Cat (160 reports), Horse (34 reports). By breed: Domestic Shorthair (61), Retriever - Labrador (35), Cat (unknown) (34).

Most co-reported drugs: Ketamine Hydrochloride (51 reports), Buprenorphine (48 reports), Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride (38 reports), Propofol (38 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.