Wobbliness (ataxia) after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in dogs

The FDA has received 658 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 5.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

658Reports

67%Marked serious

35%Recovered

8.2%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

226 50%

1–2 days

151 34%

3–7 days

25 5.6%

1–4 weeks

31 6.9%

Over a month

17 3.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

227 34%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

26 4.0%

Died

26 4.0%

Euthanised

28 4.3%

Not known

350 53%

Problems reported at the same time

219 33%

198 30%

142 22%

112 17%

95 14%

86 13%

76 12%

Eye or vision problems

73 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

145

1–3 years

155

4–7 years

164

8–11 years

107

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 658 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Spinosad (Comfortis) 1,456 reports · 2.6% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 504 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 219 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 167 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 79 reports · 2.7% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 45 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Imidacloprid 61 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Fipronil 32 reports · 2.3% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Lufenuron 27 reports · 2.7% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen 29 reports · 3.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)