Hyperaesthesia after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

The FDA has received 79 reports of hyperaesthesia in dogs after Afoxolaner. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines.

79Reports
49%Marked serious
28%Recovered
8.9%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
27 40%
1–2 days
13 19%
3–7 days
3 4.4%
1–4 weeks
9 13%
Over a month
16 24%

How the animals did

Recovered
22 28%
Still unwell when reported
9 11%
Died
1 1.3%
Euthanised
6 7.6%
Not known
41 52%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
18
1–3 years
17
4–7 years
24
8–11 years
13
12+ years
6

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 hyperaesthesia in dogs?
79 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).

Hyperaesthesia with similar medicines

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