Ocular discharge after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) in dogs

The FDA has received 142 reports of ocular discharge in dogs after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

142Reports

45%Marked serious

41%Recovered

9.9%Died or euthanised

33 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

30 29%

1–2 days

8 7.6%

3–7 days

6 5.7%

1–4 weeks

7 6.7%

Over a month

54 51%

How the animals did

Recovered

23 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

35 25%

Still unwell when reported

31 22%

Died

6 4.2%

Euthanised

8 5.6%

Not known

39 27%

Problems reported at the same time

53 37%

53 37%

42 30%

26 18%

21 15%

20 14%

20 14%

Eye disorder (for photophobia see 'neurological')

19 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

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 ocular discharge in dogs?: 142 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 33 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).

Ocular discharge with similar medicines

Ocular discharge after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 111 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 68 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 47 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 21 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Selamectin (Revolution) 44 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Ocular discharge after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 31 reports · 0.3% of its reports

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