Not drinking after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in cats

The FDA has received 34 reports of not drinking in cats after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

34Reports
74%Marked serious
38%Recovered
12%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
16 53%
1–2 days
6 20%
3–7 days
3 10%
1–4 weeks
2 6.7%
Over a month
3 10%

How the animals did

Recovered
13 38%
Still unwell when reported
6 18%
Died
2 5.9%
Euthanised
2 5.9%
Not known
11 32%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
1
1–3 years
5
4–7 years
10
8–11 years
10
12+ years
7

About this medicine

Imidacloprid kills fleas (spot-on or collar). Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease (monthly topical, or a 6- or 12-month injection for dogs).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Imidacloprid + Moxidectin cause not drinking in cats?
34 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).

Not drinking with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in cats · Medicines most reported with not drinking