Walking difficulty after Fluralaner + Moxidectin (Bravecto Plus) in cats

The FDA has received 30 reports of walking difficulty in cats after Fluralaner + Moxidectin. That is 0.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

30Reports
87%Marked serious
20%Recovered
23%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
12 46%
1–2 days
7 27%
3–7 days
2 7.7%
1–4 weeks
3 12%
Over a month
2 7.7%

How the animals did

Recovered
5 17%
Recovered with lasting effects
1 3.3%
Still unwell when reported
15 50%
Died
3 10%
Euthanised
4 13%
Not known
2 6.7%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
6
1–3 years
9
4–7 years
5
8–11 years
4
12+ years
6

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 walking difficulty in cats?
30 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 1 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).

Walking difficulty with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Fluralaner + Moxidectin in cats · Medicines most reported with walking difficulty