Breathing problems after Imidacloprid in dogs

The FDA has received 54 reports of breathing problems in dogs after Imidacloprid. That is 2.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.7% across reports for all dog medicines.

54Reports

43%Marked serious

17%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

30 60%

1–2 days

13 26%

3–7 days

2 4.0%

1–4 weeks

3 6.0%

Over a month

2 4.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 17%

Still unwell when reported

11 20%

Died

5 9.3%

Euthanised

1 1.9%

Not known

28 52%

Problems reported at the same time

20 37%

14 26%

12 22%

11 20%

10 19%

Restlessness or agitation

10 19%

Vocalising

7 13%

Death

6 11%

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 cause breathing problems in dogs?: 54 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Spinosad (Comfortis) 748 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Breathing problems after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 393 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Breathing problems after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 499 reports · 3.8% of its reports
Breathing problems after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 472 reports · 4.4% of its reports
Breathing problems after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 137 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Breathing problems after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 132 reports · 4.5% of its reports
Breathing problems after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 73 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Breathing problems after Fipronil 64 reports · 4.5% of its reports
Breathing problems after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen 34 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Breathing problems after Cyphenothrin + Fipronil + S-methoprene 51 reports · 7.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid in dogs · Medicines most reported with breathing problems