Report a problem with an animal medicine or animal exposed to human medicine
You can report any reaction or side effect (known as an ‘adverse event’) in an animal, including:
- times when a medicine has not worked
- reactions and side effects already listed on the product’s packaging
- if you are not sure the problem is related to the medicine
- when the medicine was used differently to the instructions
- a problem in an animal caused by human medicine
- a product not approved for use in the UK (if the event happened in the UK)
You can also report:
- animal medicine residue found in the environment or food
- a reaction in a human exposed to an animal medicine
There’s a different way to report a problem:
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) cannot give you medical advice - talk to your vet or the company that made the medicine.
Make a report
What happens next
You will get a summary of your report and a reference number.
The VMD will use reports to help check if medicines continue to be safe and work as expected.
You will not get updates about your report.
Other ways to report a problem
Contact the VMD if you want to fill in a paper reporting form. The form will tell you where to send it.
You can also report a problem by telling:
- your vet
- the company that made the medicine - use the contact details on the leaflet that came with the medicine (if you do not have the leaflet, search for the company also known as the MA holder)
If you report a problem to the company, they must share that report with the VMD within 30 days.
Contact the VMD
You can contact the VMD to get:
- a paper report form
- help making a report
Fill in the contact form to email VMD
Telephone: 01932 338427
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm
Closed on bank holidays
Find out about call charges