Breathing problems after Lotilaner (Credelio) in cats

The FDA has received 173 reports of breathing problems in cats after Lotilaner. That is 19% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

173Reports
38%Marked serious
38%Recovered
2.9%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
149 88%
1–2 days
9 5.3%
3–7 days
0 0.0%
1–4 weeks
5 3.0%
Over a month
6 3.6%

How the animals did

Recovered
66 38%
Still unwell when reported
58 34%
Died
2 1.2%
Euthanised
3 1.7%
Not known
44 25%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
25
1–3 years
68
4–7 years
32
8–11 years
23
12+ years
15

About this medicine

Lotilaner kills fleas and ticks; monthly chewable.

Products with this ingredient include Credelio. 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 Lotilaner cause breathing problems in cats?
173 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Lotilaner in cats · Medicines most reported with breathing problems