Drooling after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

The FDA has received 913 reports of drooling in dogs after Afoxolaner. That is 1.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

913Reports

53%Marked serious

36%Recovered

8.7%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

286 37%

1–2 days

159 21%

3–7 days

72 9.4%

1–4 weeks

95 12%

Over a month

155 20%

How the animals did

Recovered

327 36%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.1%

Still unwell when reported

96 11%

Died

44 4.8%

Euthanised

35 3.8%

Not known

410 45%

Problems reported at the same time

319 35%

256 28%

222 24%

186 20%

158 17%

143 16%

113 12%

108 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

176

1–3 years

250

4–7 years

235

8–11 years

150

12+ years

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 drooling in dogs?: 913 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).

Drooling with similar medicines

Drooling after Fluralaner (Bravecto) 769 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Drooling after Sarolaner (Simparica) 280 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Drooling after Lotilaner (Credelio) 134 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Drooling after Afoxolaner + Moxidectin + Pyrantel (NexGard PLUS) 130 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Drooling after Lotilaner + Moxidectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Credelio Quattro) 44 reports · 1.4% of its reports

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