Pet Safety Statistics
Data and trends from 1,332,683 FDA veterinary adverse event reports. Drug reactions, outcomes, and species breakdown.
Adverse Event Reports by Year
Number of FDA veterinary adverse event reports filed per year.
Most Reported Drugs
Active ingredients with the highest number of adverse event reports.
| # | Active Ingredient | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spinosad; Milbemycin Oxime | 133,859 |
| 2 | Ivermectin; Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt | 81,401 |
| 3 | Spinosad | 70,979 |
| 4 | Selamectin | 59,979 |
| 5 | Moxidectin | 52,852 |
| 6 | Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner | 47,964 |
| 7 | Afoxolaner | 46,339 |
| 8 | Carprofen | 43,497 |
| 9 | Ivermectin, Pyrantel | 39,299 |
| 10 | Fluralaner Chew Tablets | 35,404 |
| 11 | Milbemycin Oxime; Praziquantel | 27,612 |
| 12 | Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew | 25,487 |
| 13 | Oclacitinib Maleate | 23,886 |
| 14 | Milbemycin | 23,037 |
| 15 | Nitenpyram | 18,895 |
Most Common Reactions
Most frequently reported adverse reactions in animals.
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vomiting | 211,736 |
| 2 | Depression | 133,069 |
| 3 | Lethargy | 91,661 |
| 4 | Death | 82,154 |
| 5 | Anorexia | 59,694 |
| 6 | Seizure | 34,351 |
| 7 | Ataxia | 33,293 |
| 8 | Pruritus | 29,491 |
| 9 | Weight Loss | 23,590 |
| 10 | Alopecia | 18,026 |
| 11 | Salivation | 16,317 |
| 12 | Hypersalivation | 15,703 |
| 13 | Weakness | 15,484 |
| 14 | Polydipsia | 13,963 |
| 15 | Trembling/Tremor | 13,011 |
Most Reported Breeds
Animal breeds with the highest number of adverse event reports.
| # | Breed | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retriever - Labrador | 97,599 |
| 2 | Crossbred Canine/dog | 95,275 |
| 3 | Domestic Shorthair | 62,307 |
| 4 | Dog (unknown) | 55,513 |
| 5 | Shepherd Dog - German | 34,560 |
| 6 | Retriever - Golden | 33,119 |
| 7 | Chihuahua | 28,018 |
| 8 | Domestic (unspecified) | 27,284 |
| 9 | Terrier - Yorkshire | 24,679 |
| 10 | Shih Tzu | 23,793 |
| 11 | Boxer (German Boxer) | 20,158 |
| 12 | Beagle | 18,112 |
| 13 | Pit Bull | 16,676 |
| 14 | Cat (unknown) | 16,233 |
| 15 | Dachshund (unspecified) | 15,724 |
| 16 | Shepherd Dog - Australian | 14,941 |
| 17 | Terrier - Jack Russell | 11,120 |
| 18 | Maltese | 10,739 |
| 19 | Pug | 9,394 |
| 20 | Spitz - German Pomeranian | 9,360 |
About This Data
All pet adverse event data comes from the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine through the openFDA public data program. The FDA publishes quarterly data files containing reports from veterinarians, pet owners, and drug manufacturers. Our database contains 1,332,683 reports.
Not necessarily. Popular drugs prescribed to millions of animals will naturally accumulate more reports than niche products, even if the rate of adverse events is lower. Reporting is voluntary in many cases. These reports are a signal for further investigation, not a verdict on drug safety. Always consult your veterinarian.
An adverse event is classified as "serious" when it results in death, a life-threatening condition, hospitalization, disability, or a congenital anomaly. In our database, 333,219 reports (25%) are classified as serious. Of these, 66,122 resulted in death and 19,437 in euthanasia.