Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for meningitis

156 FDA adverse-event reports reference meningitis (VeDDRA 637). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

156
reports citing this reaction
28.8%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad
most-associated drug
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156
Total Reports
45
Deaths
28.8%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 134
Cat 13
Cattle 5
Pig 2
Horse 2

Breeds Most Affected

Retriever - Labrador 10
Crossbred Canine/dog 9
Domestic Shorthair 8
Retriever - Golden 8
Chihuahua 7
Poodle - Standard 5
Boxer (German Boxer) 5
Dog (unknown) 5
Mountain Dog - Bernese 5
Bulldog - French 5

Associated Drugs

Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 22
Maropitant Citrate 14
Carprofen 13
Afoxolaner 12
Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner 10
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 9
Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew 9
Prednisone 8
Gabapentin 8
Moxidectin 8
Tramadol 7
Clindamycin 7
Oclacitinib Maleate 7
Anti-Il31 Mab Mcs Lot #1283563 7
Bedinvetmab 7
Spinosad 6
Cefovecin 6
Doxycycline 5
Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt 5
Amoxicillin Trihydrate; Clavulanate Potassium ( K-Clavulanate) 4

Meningitis Reaction Insights

156 reports name Meningitis; 45 recorded a death outcome (28.8% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 637.

By species: Dog (134 reports), Cat (13 reports), Cattle (5 reports). By breed: Retriever - Labrador (10), Crossbred Canine/dog (9), Domestic Shorthair (8).

Most co-reported drugs: Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (22 reports), Maropitant Citrate (14 reports), Carprofen (13 reports), Afoxolaner (12 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.