Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid in dogs

The FDA has received 44 reports of restlessness or agitation in dogs after Imidacloprid. That is 2.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

44Reports

16%Marked serious

20%Recovered

2.3%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

29 69%

1–2 days

9 21%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

2 4.8%

Over a month

2 4.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 20%

Still unwell when reported

5 11%

Died

1 2.3%

Not known

29 66%

Problems reported at the same time

19 43%

11 25%

10 23%

8 18%

5 11%

5 11%

5 11%

5 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 restlessness or agitation in dogs?: 44 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).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Spinosad (Comfortis) 658 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 255 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 835 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 596 reports · 5.5% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 73 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 119 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 68 reports · 3.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil 40 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen 56 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Cyphenothrin + Fipronil + S-methoprene 222 reports · 34% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid in dogs · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation