Loss of appetite after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) in dogs

The FDA has received 1,485 reports of loss of appetite in dogs after Milbemycin Oxime. That is 5.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

1,485Reports
18%Marked serious
10%Recovered
12%Died or euthanised
3 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
84 26%
1–2 days
72 22%
3–7 days
19 5.9%
1–4 weeks
36 11%
Over a month
111 34%

How the animals did

Recovered
148 10.0%
Recovered with lasting effects
6 0.4%
Still unwell when reported
178 12%
Died
141 9.5%
Euthanised
44 3.0%
Not known
968 65%

Problems reported at the same time

800 54%
638 43%
470 32%
185 12%
118 7.9%
105 7.1%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
243
1–3 years
410
4–7 years
351
8–11 years
283
12+ years
180

About this medicine

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

Products with this ingredient include Interceptor. 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 cause loss of appetite in dogs?
1,485 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 3 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).

Loss of appetite with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Milbemycin Oxime in dogs · Medicines most reported with loss of appetite