Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for respiratory depression

86 FDA adverse-event reports reference respiratory depression (VeDDRA 1168). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

86
reports citing this reaction
33.7%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride
most-associated drug
Verify with FDA CVM →
86
Total Reports
29
Deaths
33.7%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 46
Cat 30
Other Birds 2
Cattle 2
Pig 1
Other Mammals 1
Primate 1
Human 1
Other Rodents 1
Guinea Pig 1

Breeds Most Affected

Domestic Shorthair 12
Dog (unknown) 8
Cat (other) 7
Unknown 6
Crossbred Canine/dog 4
Domestic Longhair 4
Pug 3
Retriever - Labrador 3
Chihuahua 3
Siamese 2

Associated Drugs

Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride 21
Butorphanol 19
Isoflurane 16
Ketamine 15
Buprenorphine 11
Tiletamine Hcl; Zolazapam Hcl 10
Meloxicam 6
Alfaxalone 6
Propofol 6
Midazolam Hydrochloride 6
Carprofen 5
Butorphanol Tartrate 5
Xylazine 4
Cefovecin 4
Diazepam 4
Atropine 4
Ketamine Hydrochloride 4
Dexmedetomidine 4
Imidacloprid + Moxidectin 4
Glycopyrrolate 3

Respiratory depression Reaction Insights

86 reports name Respiratory depression; 29 recorded a death outcome (33.7% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 1168.

By species: Dog (46 reports), Cat (30 reports), Other Birds (2 reports). By breed: Domestic Shorthair (12), Dog (unknown) (8), Cat (other) (7).

Most co-reported drugs: Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride (21 reports), Butorphanol (19 reports), Isoflurane (16 reports), Ketamine (15 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.