Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) in dogs

712 reports to the FDA describe wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs given Milbemycin Oxime. That is 2.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

712Reports

14%Marked serious

10.0%Recovered

9.7%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

48 36%

1–2 days

36 27%

3–7 days

11 8.3%

1–4 weeks

8 6.1%

Over a month

29 22%

How the animals did

Recovered

67 9.4%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 0.6%

Still unwell when reported

63 8.8%

Died

57 8.0%

Euthanised

12 1.7%

Not known

509 71%

Problems reported at the same time

258 36%

187 26%

161 23%

139 20%

105 15%

86 12%

75 11%

70 9.8%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

198

1–3 years

171

4–7 years

143

8–11 years

101

12+ years

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 712 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 + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 533 reports · 1.7% 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 in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)