Behaviour change after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in dogs

1,205 reports to the FDA describe behaviour change in dogs given Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 9.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

1,205Reports

65%Marked serious

54%Recovered

3.2%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

590 67%

1–2 days

119 14%

3–7 days

53 6.0%

1–4 weeks

71 8.1%

Over a month

44 5.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

645 54%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

37 3.1%

Died

16 1.3%

Euthanised

22 1.8%

Not known

482 40%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

291 24%

Restlessness or agitation

269 22%

219 18%

150 12%

147 12%

144 12%

102 8.5%

96 8.0%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

192

1–3 years

416

4–7 years

292

8–11 years

150

12+ years

About this medicine

Imidacloprid kills fleas (spot-on or collar). Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease (monthly topical, or a 6- or 12-month injection for dogs).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Imidacloprid + Moxidectin cause behaviour change in dogs?: 1,205 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Spinosad (Comfortis) 1,176 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 358 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Behaviour change after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 323 reports · 3.0% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 128 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Behaviour change after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 181 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 167 reports · 7.3% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid 94 reports · 4.9% of its reports
Behaviour change after Fipronil 66 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron 20 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen 70 reports · 9.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change