Overview
- The Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios issued an official alert on Monday, October 26, 2026, saying topical human minoxidil poses a serious poisoning risk to dogs and cats and is particularly dangerous for felines.
- AEMPS lists clinical effects that can follow small exposures, including low blood pressure, reflex tachycardia, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, congestive heart failure, lethargy, ataxia and tremors.
- Data cited by the agency show that signs have appeared after only a few drops or a lick and that 8 of 62 cats (12.9%) with clinical signs died in reported cases.
- Pets are often exposed indirectly when they contact treated people or contaminated items such as hands, pillows or bedding, so AEMPS advises washing hands after application, covering treated areas with clothing and preventing animals from licking treated skin or fabrics.
- The alert draws on published case reports, toxicology-center reviews, ASPCA poison-control data and a European database review and urges veterinarians and owners to report suspected cases through NotificaVET to improve detection and response.