Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) in dogs

The FDA has received 533 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel. That is 1.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

533Reports

36%Marked serious

38%Recovered

5.1%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

198 45%

1–2 days

71 16%

3–7 days

21 4.8%

1–4 weeks

34 7.8%

Over a month

114 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

199 37%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 0.6%

Still unwell when reported

186 35%

Died

13 2.4%

Euthanised

14 2.6%

Not known

118 22%

Problems reported at the same time

189 35%

137 26%

135 25%

86 16%

73 14%

71 13%

60 11%

55 10%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

119

1–3 years

127

4–7 years

106

8–11 years

100

12+ years

About this medicine

Milbemycin Oxime prevents heartworm and controls some intestinal worms (monthly). Praziquantel treats tapeworms.

Products with this combination include Interceptor Plus. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Some herding breeds (for example Collies) carry the MDR1 gene variant and can be more sensitive to this drug class at high doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel cause wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 533 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 Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 1,346 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 2,821 reports · 2.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 1,147 reports · 2.3% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 712 reports · 2.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Selamectin (Revolution) 622 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 1,237 reports · 10% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 119 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 24 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Praziquantel 81 reports · 40% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Eprinomectin 30 reports · 29% of its reports

All reported side effects of Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)