Anxiety after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) in dogs

The FDA has received 23 reports of anxiety in dogs after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid. That is 1.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

23Reports

48%Marked serious

48%Recovered

4.3%Died or euthanised

6 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 31%

1–2 days

1 7.7%

3–7 days

2 15%

1–4 weeks

1 7.7%

Over a month

5 38%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 48%

Still unwell when reported

6 26%

Died

1 4.3%

Not known

5 22%

Problems reported at the same time

Behaviour change

6 26%

Vomiting

5 22%

Lethargy

5 22%

Restlessness or agitation

4 17%

Breathing problems

4 17%

Skin rash or irritation

3 13%

Loss of appetite

3 13%

Itching

3 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Imidacloprid kills fleas (spot-on or collar).

Products with this combination include Seresto. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Flumethrin + Imidacloprid cause anxiety in dogs?: 23 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 6 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).

Anxiety with similar medicines

Anxiety after Spinosad (Comfortis) 141 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Anxiety after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 113 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Anxiety after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 103 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Anxiety after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 63 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Anxiety after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 36 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Anxiety after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 36 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Anxiety after Fipronil 23 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Anxiety after Cyphenothrin + Fipronil + S-methoprene 39 reports · 6.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Flumethrin + Imidacloprid in dogs · Medicines most reported with anxiety