Increased respiratory rate after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

The FDA has received 59 reports of increased respiratory rate in dogs after Afoxolaner. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines.

59Reports
63%Marked serious
36%Recovered
25%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
15 35%
1–2 days
11 26%
3–7 days
4 9.3%
1–4 weeks
2 4.7%
Over a month
11 26%

How the animals did

Recovered
20 34%
Recovered with lasting effects
1 1.7%
Still unwell when reported
9 15%
Died
4 6.8%
Euthanised
11 19%
Not known
14 24%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
13
1–3 years
13
4–7 years
10
8–11 years
13
12+ years
10

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 increased respiratory rate 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 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).

Increased respiratory rate with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Afoxolaner in dogs · Medicines most reported with increased respiratory rate