Hiding after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

176 reports to the FDA describe hiding in dogs given Afoxolaner. That is 0.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

176Reports
39%Marked serious
30%Recovered
5.7%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
49 34%
1–2 days
34 23%
3–7 days
15 10%
1–4 weeks
21 14%
Over a month
26 18%

How the animals did

Recovered
53 30%
Still unwell when reported
11 6.3%
Died
9 5.1%
Euthanised
1 0.6%
Not known
102 58%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
15
1–3 years
51
4–7 years
57
8–11 years
42
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 hiding in dogs?
176 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).

Hiding with similar medicines

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