Species
Guinea Pig: adverse event reports
119 reports, 0% of FDA's animal drug adverse event database
119 adverse event reports in FDA's database concern guinea pigs: 0% of all reports received from July 1995 to April 2025. 2 arrived in the 12 months to March 2026, up 100% from 1 in the 12 months before. That is 0% of all reports received in those 12 months and about 4 reports a year over the whole record.
By active ingredient, the drugs named most often are ivermectin (21.8% of guinea pig reports), selamectin (20.2% of guinea pig reports), enrofloxacin (10.9% of guinea pig reports) and meloxicam (10.9% of guinea pig reports). Drugs given to the most animals lead the list for that reason; brands are masked in the public data.
The terms listed most often are death (48.7%), anorexia (15.1%) and depression (12.6%). 76.1% of reports stating seriousness were classed as serious (38.6% across all species), and 52.9% record a death or euthanasia (6.4% overall).
FDA posts reports quarterly with a delay of three to six months, so the newest months are incomplete and usually grow in later releases.
Drugs named most often, by active ingredient
| Active ingredients recorded for the drug | Reports | Share of guinea pig reports | Share of the drug's reports that concern guinea pigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivermectin | 26 | 21.8% | 0.1% |
| Selamectin | 24 | 20.2% | 0% |
| Enrofloxacin | 13 | 10.9% | 0.2% |
| Meloxicam | 13 | 10.9% | 0.1% |
| Isoflurane | 11 | 9.2% | 0.2% |
| Cefovecin sodium | 8 | 6.7% | 0.1% |
| Midazolam | 7 | 5.9% | 0.3% |
| Buprenorphine | 5 | 4.2% | 0.1% |
| Ketamine Hydrochloride | 5 | 4.2% | 0.1% |
| Sevoflurane | 5 | 4.2% | 0.4% |
| Alfaxalone | 4 | 3.4% | 0.4% |
| Butorphanol Tartrate | 4 | 3.4% | 0.1% |
| Carprofen | 4 | 3.4% | 0% |
| Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride | 4 | 3.4% | 0.1% |
| Dexmedetomidine | 3 | 2.5% | 0.1% |
| Glycopyrrolate | 3 | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| Orbifloxacin | 3 | 2.5% | 0.2% |
| Xylazine | 3 | 2.5% | 0.3% |
| Amoxicillin | 2 | 1.7% | 0% |
| Imidacloprid + Moxidectin | 2 | 1.7% | 0% |
| Lidocaine | 2 | 1.7% | 0.4% |
| Atipamezole Hydrochloride | 1 | 0.8% | 0% |
| Betamethasone Valerate + Clotrimazole + Gentamicin Sulfate | 1 | 0.8% | 0% |
| Cefadroxil | 1 | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Clorsulon + Ivermectin | 1 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Dexamethasone + Neomycin Sulfate + Thiabendazole | 1 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Diethylcarbamazine Citrate | 1 | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Enrofloxacin + Silver sulfadiazine | 1 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Fentanyl | 1 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
| Florfenicol | 1 | 0.8% | 0.1% |
Ordered by report count, which follows how widely a drug is used. FDA states that these data "cannot be used to estimate the risk associated with the product or compare one drug or device product with another". openFDA masks brand and manufacturer names in adverse event records, so the reports counted here cannot be attributed to a particular brand.
Signs listed in reports
share of guinea pig reports listing the termall species
- Death48.7%58
- Anorexia[not eating]15.1%18
- Depression[dull, quiet or withdrawn]12.6%15
- Ataxia[unsteady, uncoordinated movement]7.6%9
- Lack of efficacy - NOS[the product did not have the expected effect]7.6%9
- Cardiac arrest6.7%8
- Weight loss6.7%8
- Diarrhoea[diarrhea]5%6
- Death by euthanasia[the animal was euthanized]3.4%4
- Lethargy[unusually tired or inactive]3.4%4
- Pneumonia[lung infection or inflammation]3.4%4
- Recumbency[lying down and unable or unwilling to rise]3.4%4
- Abscess NOS[NOS: not otherwise specified]2.5%3
- Adipsia[not drinking]2.5%3
- Convulsion[seizure]2.5%3
- Dyspnoea[difficulty breathing]2.5%3
- Head bobbing2.5%3
- Hypothermia[low body temperature]2.5%3
- No sign[no clinical sign was reported]2.5%3
- Not eating2.5%3
- Pruritus[itching]2.5%3
- Weakness2.5%3
- Accidental exposure[exposure that was not intended]1.7%2
- Anaphylaxis[sudden severe allergic-type reaction]1.7%2
- Apnoea[breathing stopped]1.7%2
- Blindness1.7%2
- Disorientation1.7%2
Single ingredients, pooled across combinations
- Ivermectin27 reports · 22.7%
- Selamectin24 reports · 20.2%
- Enrofloxacin14 reports · 11.8%
- Meloxicam13 reports · 10.9%
- Isoflurane11 reports · 9.2%
- Cefovecin sodium8 reports · 6.7%
- Midazolam7 reports · 5.9%
- Buprenorphine5 reports · 4.2%
- Ketamine Hydrochloride5 reports · 4.2%
- Sevoflurane5 reports · 4.2%
- Alfaxalone4 reports · 3.4%
- Butorphanol Tartrate4 reports · 3.4%
- Carprofen4 reports · 3.4%
- Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride4 reports · 3.4%
- Dexmedetomidine3 reports · 2.5%
- Glycopyrrolate3 reports · 2.5%
Age and weight
Age of the animal
Weight of the animal
Outcomes and report types
Outcome recorded in the report
What kind of report it was
Coloured bar: guinea pig reports. Grey bar: all 1,357,245 reports. Outcomes are as stated by the reporter.
Trend
Reports by month FDA received them. The newest months are incomplete because FDA posts reports with a delay of three to six months.
| Measure | Guinea Pig | All reports |
|---|---|---|
| Reports | 119 | 1,357,245 |
| Classed serious, of reports stating it | 76.1% | 38.6% |
| Death or euthanasia recorded, per 1,000 reports | 529.4 | 63.8 |
| Filed as lack of expected effectiveness (wholly or partly) | 6.7% | 23% |
Questions about guinea pig reports
How many adverse event reports involve guinea pigs?
119 reports through March 2026, 0% of the database; 2 in the latest 12 months.
Which drugs are reported most often for guinea pigs?
By active ingredient: ivermectin (26), selamectin (24), enrofloxacin (13), meloxicam (13) and isoflurane (11). The order tracks how widely each is used; brands are masked in the public data.
What signs are reported most in guinea pigs?
death (48.7%), anorexia (15.1%), depression (12.6%), ataxia (7.6%) and lack of efficacy - NOS (7.6%).
What ages are the guinea pigs in these reports?
under 1 year (25.2%), 1 to 3 years (25.2%) and 4 to 7 years (15.1%); age is not given in 34.5% of reports.
Do more reports mean more risk for this species?
No. Counts follow how many animals are treated and how readily their owners and veterinarians report. FDA states that "there is no certainty that the reported drug or device caused the adverse event" and that the event "may have been related to an underlying disease, other drugs used at the same time or other non-drug related sources."
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 1 Oct 2026. 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.