Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for ineffective, sedation

1,213 FDA adverse-event reports reference ineffective, sedation (VeDDRA 99145). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

1,213
reports citing this reaction
6.6%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride
most-associated drug
Verify with FDA CVM →
1,213
Total Reports
80
Deaths
6.6%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 725
Horse 259
Cat 176
Rat 6
Other 6
Cattle 6
Rabbit 5
Mouse 4
Other Mammals 4
Donkey 3

Breeds Most Affected

Dog (unknown) 281
Horse (unknown) 103
Unknown 99
Cat (unknown) 73
Crossbred Canine/dog 45
Retriever - Labrador 45
Domestic (unspecified) 36
Domestic Shorthair 34
Quarter Horse 32
Shepherd Dog - German 30

Associated Drugs

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride 649
Ketamine Hydrochloride 185
Butorphanol 125
Detomidine Hydrochloride 115
Butorphanol Tartrate 99
Xylazine 58
Ketamine 45
Tiletamine Hcl; Zolazapam Hcl 35
Detomidine 32
Dexmedetomidine 29
Isoflurane 20
Acepromazine Maleate 19
Propofol 19
Atipamezole Hydrochloride 18
Ketamine Hcl 17
Xylazine Hydrochloride 17
Buprenorphine 10
Butorphanol Injectable 10
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection 10
Midazolam Hydrochloride 9

INEFFECTIVE, SEDATION Reaction Insights

1,213 reports name INEFFECTIVE, SEDATION; 80 recorded a death outcome (6.6% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 99145.

By species: Dog (725 reports), Horse (259 reports), Cat (176 reports). By breed: Dog (unknown) (281), Horse (unknown) (103), Unknown (99).

Most co-reported drugs: Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride (649 reports), Ketamine Hydrochloride (185 reports), Butorphanol (125 reports), Detomidine Hydrochloride (115 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.