Food refusal after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

The FDA has received 44 reports of food refusal in dogs after Afoxolaner. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.0% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

44Reports
20%Marked serious
25%Recovered
14%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
18 47%
1–2 days
9 24%
3–7 days
3 7.9%
1–4 weeks
3 7.9%
Over a month
5 13%

How the animals did

Recovered
10 23%
Recovered with lasting effects
1 2.3%
Still unwell when reported
4 9.1%
Died
3 6.8%
Euthanised
3 6.8%
Not known
23 52%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
6
1–3 years
10
4–7 years
10
8–11 years
8
12+ years
7

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 food refusal in dogs?
44 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).

Food refusal with similar medicines

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