Adequan Recall Issued Nationwide After Glass Fibers Found in Injectable Products

Veterinarians who use Adequan for canine osteoarthritis or equine lameness will want to check their inventory immediately.

American Regent, Inc. Animal Health has announced a nationwide recall of four lots of Adequan injectable products after internal quality testing detected glass fibers in retained samples. Although no adverse events have been reported to date, the company is recalling the affected products as a precaution with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall affects two lots of Adequan Canine Injection (100 mg/mL, 5 mL multi-dose vials) and two lots of Adequan i.m. Injection (500 mg/5 mL) used in horses.

Adequan Canine is commonly prescribed to help manage noninfectious degenerative and traumatic joint disease in dogs, while Adequan i.m. is widely used to treat degenerative joint disease and associated lameness in horses. Both medications are administered by intramuscular injection under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.

The concern stems from the discovery of microscopic glass fibers during routine testing of samples retained by the manufacturer. Injecting particulate matter can potentially cause localized inflammation, swelling, pain at the injection site, infection, or abscess formation. While the risk of serious complications appears low, the presence of foreign material in injectable medications prompted the voluntary recall.

The recalled canine product includes Lot 3369, which expires October 31, 2026, and Lot 25011, which expires December 31, 2027. The equine product recall includes Lot 24416, expiring November 30, 2027, and Lot 25265P, expiring March 31, 2027. These lots were distributed nationwide to veterinary hospitals, distributors, wholesalers, and online pharmacies between May 2024 and January 2026.

American Regent is advising veterinarians, clinics, distributors, and retailers to immediately stop using or distributing the affected lots. Veterinary practices should either return any unused product to the manufacturer or dispose of it according to the company's instructions. Pet owners who know their dog received one of the recalled lots should contact their veterinarian if they notice unusual swelling, pain, or other concerns following an injection.

The company emphasized that no injuries or adverse reactions associated with the recalled lots have been reported so far, and the recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution.

Practices that routinely stock Adequan may want to review inventory this week, verify lot numbers on the shelf, and notify staff members responsible for medication handling to prevent accidental administration of the affected products.

American Regent has established dedicated customer support lines for returns, product replacement, medical questions, adverse event reporting, and product quality concerns. Suspected adverse reactions may also be reported directly to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.

The recall serves as another reminder of the importance of routine quality surveillance in veterinary pharmaceuticals. In this case, the issue was detected during internal testing before reports of patient harm emerged, allowing the manufacturer to remove affected lots from circulation proactively.