Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Side effects of ketoconazole treatment in dogs
By Mayer, Ursula K et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2008·Ludwig Maximilian University, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Adverse effects of ketoconazole in dogs--a retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 632 dogs treated with ketoconazole for skin infections experienced some side effects, with about 14.6% showing symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy. The most common issues were vomiting in 7.1% of the dogs and anorexia in 4.9%. Some dogs also had other reactions, including ataxia (loss of coordination), especially if they were also taking ivermectin. While serious liver problems were rare, it’s recommended that vets monitor liver enzyme levels during treatment. Most dogs were able to continue their treatment with careful observation.
People also search for: dog vomiting after ketoconazole · side effects of ketoconazole in dogs · dog lethargy after medication
Abstract
Although ketoconazole has been used extensively in dogs for the treatment of various fungal infections, information about adverse effects is mainly anecdotal. Common adverse effects in humans include dose-dependant anorexia, nausea and vomiting, allergic rashes and pruritus. Drug-induced hepatitis is very rare, but potentially fatal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the type and frequency of adverse effects associated with ketoconazole therapy in dogs treated for skin diseases and any possible influence of dosage, duration of therapy, signalment or concurrent medication. The medical records of 632 dogs treated with ketoconazole (2.6-33.4 mg/kg) were reviewed. Adverse effects occurred in 14.6% (92 dogs) and included vomiting (7.1%), anorexia (4.9%), lethargy (1.9%), diarrhea (1.1%), pruritus (0.6%), erythema (0.3%) and other adverse effects (2.5%). Of the dogs with other adverse effects, four of 16 (25%) were ataxic and three of these received concurrent ivermectin. Adverse effects were significantly more often recorded in dogs concurrently treated with ciclosporin (P = 0.034) or ivermectin (P = 0.007). Increased liver enzyme levels were reported rarely, and icterus was not seen in any of the dogs. However, monitoring liver enzymes during therapy is recommended, although this might not necessarily prevent severe idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18547382/