Musculoskeletal pain after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) in dogs

37 reports to the FDA describe musculoskeletal pain in dogs given Milbemycin Oxime. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

37Reports
19%Marked serious
2.7%Recovered
22%Died or euthanised
–Typical onset
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How the animals did

Recovered
1 2.7%
Still unwell when reported
2 5.4%
Died
5 14%
Euthanised
3 8.1%
Not known
26 70%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
8
1–3 years
6
4–7 years
13
8–11 years
7
12+ years
3

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 musculoskeletal pain in dogs?
37 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.
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).

Musculoskeletal pain with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Milbemycin Oxime in dogs · Medicines most reported with musculoskeletal pain