Excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming after Fluralaner + Moxidectin (Bravecto Plus) in cats

The FDA has received 31 reports of excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming in cats after Fluralaner + Moxidectin. That is 1.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

31Reports

39%Marked serious

3.2%Recovered

0.0%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

11 55%

1–2 days

2 10%

3–7 days

4 20%

1–4 weeks

2 10%

Over a month

1 5.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 3.2%

Still unwell when reported

28 90%

Not known

2 6.5%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

16 52%

Hair loss

13 42%

Vomiting

4 13%

Application site reaction

4 13%

Skin redness

3 9.7%

Drug administered at inappropriate site

3 9.7%

Grooming disorder

3 9.7%

Self trauma

3 9.7%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Fluralaner kills fleas and ticks for up to 12 weeks (chewable or spot-on). Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease (monthly topical, or a 6- or 12-month injection for dogs).

Products with this combination include Bravecto Plus. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

In 2018 the FDA alerted owners and vets that isoxazoline products have been associated with neurologic reactions such as muscle tremors, wobbliness (ataxia) and seizures, including in animals with no history of them.

Questions owners ask

Can Fluralaner + Moxidectin cause excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming in cats?: 31 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming with similar medicines

Excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming after Fluralaner (Bravecto) 42 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming after Sarolaner + Selamectin (Revolution Plus) 46 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming after Lotilaner (Credelio) 30 reports · 3.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Fluralaner + Moxidectin in cats · Medicines most reported with excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming