Wobbliness (ataxia) after Imidacloprid in dogs

The FDA has received 61 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs after Imidacloprid. That is 3.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

61Reports

39%Marked serious

25%Recovered

9.8%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

24 44%

1–2 days

20 37%

3–7 days

5 9.3%

1–4 weeks

4 7.4%

Over a month

1 1.9%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 25%

Still unwell when reported

4 6.6%

Died

3 4.9%

Euthanised

3 4.9%

Not known

36 59%

Problems reported at the same time

27 44%

22 36%

20 33%

12 20%

8 13%

7 11%

6 9.8%

6 9.8%

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 cause wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 61 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).

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 Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 658 reports · 5.0% 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 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 in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)