Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for melaena

1,160 FDA adverse-event reports reference melaena (VeDDRA 317). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

1,160
reports citing this reaction
31.7%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Carprofen
most-associated drug
Verify with FDA CVM →
1,160
Total Reports
368
Deaths
31.7%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 1,116
Cat 33
Cattle 7
Human 1
Other Birds 1
Pig 1
Ferret 1

Breeds Most Affected

Retriever - Labrador 203
Crossbred Canine/dog 107
Terrier - Yorkshire 42
Retriever - Golden 39
Shepherd Dog - German 32
Boxer (German Boxer) 32
Dog (unknown) 26
Chihuahua 26
Shih Tzu 25
Dachshund (unspecified) 23

Associated Drugs

Carprofen 371
Deracoxib 112
Maropitant Citrate 105
Meloxicam 98
Firocoxib 82
Sucralfate 56
Grapiprant 52
Famotidine 49
Tramadol 46
Gabapentin 46
Afoxolaner 40
Moxidectin 36
Prednisone 29
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 26
Metronidazole 26
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 26
Firocoxib 227 Mg Chewable 25
Enrofloxacin 24
Cyclosporine 22
Bedinvetmab 22

Melaena Reaction Insights

1,160 reports name Melaena; 368 recorded a death outcome (31.7% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 317.

By species: Dog (1,116 reports), Cat (33 reports), Cattle (7 reports). By breed: Retriever - Labrador (203), Crossbred Canine/dog (107), Terrier - Yorkshire (42).

Most co-reported drugs: Carprofen (371 reports), Deracoxib (112 reports), Maropitant Citrate (105 reports), Meloxicam (98 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.