Skin scab after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

The FDA has received 171 reports of skin scab in dogs after Afoxolaner. That is 0.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

171Reports
47%Marked serious
11%Recovered
1.2%Died or euthanised
5 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
35 24%
1–2 days
28 20%
3–7 days
23 16%
1–4 weeks
17 12%
Over a month
40 28%

How the animals did

Recovered
19 11%
Still unwell when reported
20 12%
Died
1 0.6%
Euthanised
1 0.6%
Not known
130 76%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
25
1–3 years
40
4–7 years
52
8–11 years
30
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 skin scab in dogs?
171 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 5 days 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 scab with similar medicines

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