Decreased drinking after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

64 reports to the FDA describe decreased drinking in dogs given Afoxolaner. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines.

64Reports
31%Marked serious
20%Recovered
7.8%Died or euthanised
3 daysTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
13 24%
1–2 days
9 16%
3–7 days
17 31%
1–4 weeks
4 7.3%
Over a month
12 22%

How the animals did

Recovered
13 20%
Still unwell when reported
12 19%
Died
1 1.6%
Euthanised
4 6.3%
Not known
34 53%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
7
1–3 years
16
4–7 years
11
8–11 years
17
12+ years
9

About this medicine

Afoxolaner kills fleas and ticks; given as a monthly chewable.

Products with this ingredient include NexGard. 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 Afoxolaner cause decreased drinking in dogs?
64 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 3 days 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).

Decreased drinking with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Afoxolaner in dogs · Medicines most reported with decreased drinking