Diarrhea after Imidacloprid + Permethrin in dogs

The FDA has received 34 reports of diarrhea in dogs after Imidacloprid + Permethrin. That is 7.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

34Reports

32%Marked serious

44%Recovered

2.9%Died or euthanised

7 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 18%

1–2 days

6 27%

3–7 days

2 9.1%

1–4 weeks

2 9.1%

Over a month

8 36%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 41%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 2.9%

Still unwell when reported

7 21%

Euthanised

1 2.9%

Not known

11 32%

Problems reported at the same time

Vomiting

20 59%

Lethargy

13 38%

Loss of appetite

12 35%

Skin rash or irritation

4 12%

Blood problems

3 8.8%

Restlessness or agitation

3 8.8%

Didn't work as expected

3 8.8%

Behaviour change

3 8.8%

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).

Questions owners ask

Can Imidacloprid + Permethrin cause diarrhea in dogs?: 34 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 7 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).

Diarrhea with similar medicines

Diarrhea after Spinosad (Comfortis) 2,388 reports · 4.2% of its reports
Diarrhea after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 2,524 reports · 9.7% of its reports
Diarrhea after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 1,203 reports · 9.2% of its reports
Diarrhea after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 626 reports · 5.8% of its reports
Diarrhea after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 800 reports · 8.0% of its reports
Diarrhea after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 230 reports · 7.8% of its reports
Diarrhea after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 130 reports · 5.7% of its reports
Diarrhea after Imidacloprid 93 reports · 4.9% of its reports
Diarrhea after Fipronil 123 reports · 8.7% of its reports
Diarrhea after Lufenuron 182 reports · 18% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Permethrin in dogs · Medicines most reported with diarrhea