Urinary incontinence after Afoxolaner (NexGard) in dogs

The FDA has received 276 reports of urinary incontinence in dogs after Afoxolaner. That is 0.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

276Reports
55%Marked serious
27%Recovered
9.1%Died or euthanised
4 daysTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
56 26%
1–2 days
47 22%
3–7 days
20 9.3%
1–4 weeks
30 14%
Over a month
63 29%

How the animals did

Recovered
74 27%
Recovered with lasting effects
1 0.4%
Still unwell when reported
38 14%
Died
7 2.5%
Euthanised
18 6.5%
Not known
138 50%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
54
1–3 years
53
4–7 years
60
8–11 years
58
12+ years
47

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 urinary incontinence in dogs?
276 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 4 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).

Urinary incontinence with similar medicines

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