Skin redness after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

1,053 reports to the FDA describe skin redness in dogs given Afoxolaner. That is 1.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

1,053Reports

53%Marked serious

26%Recovered

2.7%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

479 53%

1–2 days

166 18%

3–7 days

52 5.7%

1–4 weeks

66 7.3%

Over a month

143 16%

How the animals did

Recovered

266 25%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 0.3%

Still unwell when reported

122 12%

Died

21 2.0%

Euthanised

7 0.7%

Not known

634 60%

Problems reported at the same time

651 62%

184 17%

141 13%

135 13%

123 12%

110 10%

Restlessness or agitation

105 10.0%

Loss of appetite

103 9.8%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

120

1–3 years

265

4–7 years

309

8–11 years

240

12+ years

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 skin redness in dogs?: 1,053 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 the same 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).

Skin redness with similar medicines

Skin redness after Fluralaner (Bravecto) 519 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Skin redness after Sarolaner (Simparica) 119 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Skin redness after Lotilaner (Credelio) 110 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Skin redness after Afoxolaner + Moxidectin + Pyrantel (NexGard PLUS) 50 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Skin redness after Lotilaner + Moxidectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Credelio Quattro) 45 reports · 1.5% of its reports

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