Breed · Dog

Retriever: adverse event reports

FDA breed label "Retriever (unspecified)" · single-breed animals only

Read this first · FDA's caveat, in its words

An API dataset query result cannot be used to estimate the risk associated with the product or compare one drug or device product with another. When looking at the results, be aware that there is no certainty that the reported drug or device caused the adverse event. This dataset should not be the sole source of information for clinical decision-making or other assumptions about the safety or effectiveness of a product. The adverse event may have been related to an underlying disease, other drugs used at the same time or other non-drug related sources. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine

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Not veterinary advice. This site lists what was reported to FDA. For an animal that is unwell, contact a veterinarian.

2,138reports, 2010–20260.2% of dog reports

22reports, 12 months to March 202637 in the 12 months before

27.7%classed serious, as reportedall dogs: 38.3%

40.9%name milbemycin oxime + spinosadall dogs: 13.1%

2,138 adverse event reports received by FDA describe an animal recorded as Retriever (FDA breed label "Retriever (unspecified)"). That is 0.2% of all reports about dogs. Crossbred animals are not counted here, only reports that give this single breed.

22 reports arrived in the 12 months to March 2026, down 41% from 37 in the 12 months before. A breed's count mostly mirrors how common the breed is; registration and ownership figures by breed are not public data, so no per-animal rate can be given.

By active ingredient, the drugs named most often are milbemycin oxime + spinosad, spinosad and moxidectin. Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad is named in 40.9% of this breed's reports, a larger share than in reports about all dogs (13.1%).

The terms listed most often are emesis (44.9%), vomiting (14.3%) and lethargy (11.8%). Emesis appears in 44.9% of reports, a larger share than in all dog reports (6.5%). 27.7% of reports stating seriousness were classed as serious, against 38.3% for dogs overall.

Drugs named most often, by active ingredient

Active ingredients recorded for the drug	Reports	Share of Retriever reports	Share of all dog reports
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad	874	40.9%	13.1%
Spinosad	676	31.6%	5.8%
Moxidectin	133	6.2%	5%
Fluralaner	109	5.1%	6.7%
Ivermectin	92	4.3%	1.3%
Pyrantel Pamoate + Sarolaner	88	4.1%	5.1%
Ivermectin + Pyrantel Pamoate	59	2.8%	14.9%
Oclacitinib	49	2.3%	2.9%
Carprofen	47	2.2%	4.8%
Sarolaner	47	2.2%	1.7%
Milbemycin Oxime	38	1.8%	3%
Melarsomine Dihydrochloride	29	1.4%	2.3%
Prednisone	28	1.3%	0.9%
Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel	25	1.2%	3.1%
Levothyroxine sodium	23	1.1%	0.3%
Selamectin	23	1.1%	3%
Bedinvetmab	19	0.9%	1.9%
Tramadol	19	0.9%	0.4%
Cephalexin	17	0.8%	0.3%
Diphenhydramine	17	0.8%	0.5%

Ordered by report count. Differences from the species column often come from body size (which drugs a breed is prescribed) and from how common the breed was in the years a drug sold most. FDA states that these data cannot be used to estimate risk or to compare one product with another. Brand and manufacturer names are masked by FDA in these records.

Signs listed in reports

share of Retriever reports listing the termall dog reports

Emesis[vomiting]44.9%959
Vomiting14.3%306
Lethargy[unusually tired or inactive]11.8%252
Diarrhoea[diarrhea]4.9%105
Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea[the product did not have the expected effect: fleas]4.3%93
Lack of efficacy - NOS[the product did not have the expected effect]3.6%76
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - heartworm[the product did not have the expected effect: heartworm]3.2%68
Seizure NOS[seizure, type not specified]2.5%53
Anorexia[not eating]2.1%45
Pruritus[itching]1.8%39
Itching1.7%37
Weight loss1.7%36
Panting1.6%35
Other abnormal test result NOS[abnormal laboratory result, type not specified]1.5%33
Ataxia[unsteady, uncoordinated movement]1.4%31
Decreased appetite1.4%30
Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT)[a liver enzyme above the normal range]1.4%29
Facial swelling1.4%29
Lack of efficacy (endoparasite) - hookworm[the product did not have the expected effect: hookworms]1.3%28
Death1.1%24
Ineffective, heartworm larvae[legacy FDA term: the product did not have the expected effect (heartworm larvae)]1.1%24
Not eating1.1%24
Hives1.1%23
Unpalatable[legacy FDA term: the animal would not take it]1%22
Behavioural disorder NOS[behaviour change, type not specified]1%21

Age and weight

Age of the animal

Under 1 year14.9%318

1 to 3 years38.3%818

4 to 7 years24.9%532

8 to 11 years14.5%310

12 years and over5.7%121

Age not given1.8%39

Weight of the animal

Under 5 kg (11 lb)0.6%12

5 to 9.9 kg (11–22 lb)2.4%51

10 to 24.9 kg (22–55 lb)21.3%455

25 to 44.9 kg (55–99 lb)67.8%1,450

45 kg and over (99 lb+)6%128

Weight not given2%42

Coloured bar: Retriever reports. Grey bar: all dog reports.

Trend and outcomes

Reports by month FDA received them. The newest months are incomplete because FDA posts reports with a delay of three to six months.

Outcome recorded in the report

Recovered/Normal64.7%1,384

Recovered with Sequela6.6%142

Ongoing16.1%344

Died1.2%26

Euthanized0.7%15

Outcome Unknown10.6%227

Beside all dogs

Measure	Retriever	All dogs
Reports	2,138	985,675
Latest 12 months	22	53,292
Classed serious, of reports stating it	27.7%	38.3%
Death or euthanasia recorded, per 1,000 reports	19.2	55

Questions about Retriever reports

How many FDA adverse event reports involve Retrievers?

2,138 reports through March 2026, 0.2% of reports about dogs; 22 in the latest 12 months.

Which drugs are named most often in Retriever reports?

By active ingredient: milbemycin oxime + spinosad (874), spinosad (676), moxidectin (133), fluralaner (109) and ivermectin (92). Brands are masked in the public data.

What signs are reported most for this breed?

emesis (44.9%), vomiting (14.3%), lethargy (11.8%), diarrhoea (4.9%) and lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (4.3%).

Is the Retriever more sensitive to certain drugs?

Report counts cannot answer that. They show what was reported, not what a drug did, and they are not adjusted for how many Retriever animals exist or were treated. Breed-related drug sensitivities that are established are described on FDA-approved labels; a veterinarian is the person to ask about an individual animal.

Why are crossbreds not included?

FDA records crossbred animals with one or more component breeds. Counting them under each component would double count, so breed pages use single-breed reports only. Crossbreds remain in the species totals.

How do I report a problem?

Call the drug company using the number on the label, or send Form FDA 1932a to FDA. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Animal & Veterinary adverse event bulk files released 28 Sep 2026, which hold reports FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine received through 31 Mar 2026. openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in these files, so drugs are counted by the active ingredients each record discloses and no figure is attributed to a brand, application or company. Ingredient names, and the separate reference lists of approved products, follow the FDA Green Book as of 30 Sep 2026. Breed names are FDA's labels rearranged into everyday order ("Retriever (unspecified)" becomes "Retriever"). No report text, lot numbers or reporter details are published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.