Unpalatable after Spinosad (Comfortis) in cats

517 reports to the FDA describe unpalatable in cats given Spinosad. That is 4.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

517Reports

4.3%Marked serious

58%Recovered

1.5%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

224 52%

1–2 days

17 3.9%

3–7 days

20 4.6%

1–4 weeks

57 13%

Over a month

113 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

287 56%

Recovered with lasting effects

15 2.9%

Still unwell when reported

20 3.9%

Died

7 1.4%

Euthanised

1 0.2%

Not known

187 36%

Problems reported at the same time

Vomiting

321 62%

Didn't stop fleas

164 32%

Didn't work as expected

89 17%

55 11%

36 7.0%

32 6.2%

21 4.1%

17 3.3%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

132

4–7 years

109

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Spinosad kills fleas; monthly chewable.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Spinosad cause unpalatable in cats?: 517 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).

Unpalatable with similar medicines

Unpalatable after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 43 reports · 0.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Spinosad in cats · Medicines most reported with unpalatable