Lymphopenia after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) in dogs

179 reports to the FDA describe lymphopenia in dogs given Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

179Reports
79%Marked serious
31%Recovered
24%Died or euthanised
21 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
38 28%
1–2 days
15 11%
3–7 days
4 3.0%
1–4 weeks
18 13%
Over a month
60 44%

How the animals did

Recovered
31 17%
Recovered with lasting effects
24 13%
Still unwell when reported
46 26%
Died
19 11%
Euthanised
24 13%
Not known
35 20%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
13
1–3 years
36
4–7 years
51
8–11 years
54
12+ years
24

About this medicine

Milbemycin Oxime prevents heartworm and controls some intestinal worms (monthly). Spinosad kills fleas; monthly chewable.

Products with this combination include Trifexis. 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 + Spinosad cause lymphopenia in dogs?
179 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 21 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).

Lymphopenia with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad in dogs · Medicines most reported with lymphopenia