Swelling after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in dogs

The FDA has received 218 reports of swelling in dogs after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 1.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.8% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

218Reports

64%Marked serious

33%Recovered

8.7%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

57 39%

1–2 days

37 25%

3–7 days

24 16%

1–4 weeks

14 9.6%

Over a month

14 9.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

72 33%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

8 3.7%

Died

9 4.1%

Euthanised

10 4.6%

Not known

118 54%

Problems reported at the same time

77 35%

63 29%

46 21%

44 20%

38 17%

28 13%

28 13%

Skin rash or irritation

26 12%

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 swelling in dogs?: 218 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 1 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).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Spinosad (Comfortis) 399 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Swelling after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 219 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Swelling after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 127 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Swelling after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 70 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Swelling after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 42 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Swelling after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 47 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Swelling after Fipronil 20 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Swelling after Lufenuron 44 reports · 4.3% of its reports

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