Dry mucous membrane after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

59 reports to the FDA describe dry mucous membrane in dogs given Afoxolaner. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines.

59Reports
73%Marked serious
20%Recovered
19%Died or euthanised
3 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
12 24%
1–2 days
13 26%
3–7 days
6 12%
1–4 weeks
5 10%
Over a month
14 28%

How the animals did

Recovered
12 20%
Still unwell when reported
11 19%
Died
5 8.5%
Euthanised
6 10%
Not known
25 42%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
8
1–3 years
18
4–7 years
15
8–11 years
13
12+ years
5

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 dry mucous membrane in dogs?
59 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).

Dry mucous membrane with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Afoxolaner in dogs · Medicines most reported with dry mucous membrane