Excessive thirst after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in dogs

The FDA has received 114 reports of excessive thirst in dogs after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 0.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

114Reports

76%Marked serious

32%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

27 35%

1–2 days

18 23%

3–7 days

14 18%

1–4 weeks

14 18%

Over a month

4 5.2%

How the animals did

Recovered

36 32%

Still unwell when reported

6 5.3%

Died

4 3.5%

Euthanised

9 7.9%

Not known

59 52%

Problems reported at the same time

45 39%

30 26%

30 26%

25 22%

24 21%

22 19%

Restlessness or agitation

19 17%

Breathing problems

19 17%

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). 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 excessive thirst in dogs?: 114 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 2 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).

Excessive thirst with similar medicines

Excessive thirst after Spinosad (Comfortis) 374 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 131 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 50 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 23 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 21 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Fipronil 23 reports · 1.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with excessive thirst