Falling after Sarolaner (Simparica) in dogs

The FDA has received 249 reports of falling in dogs after Sarolaner. That is 1.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

249Reports

54%Marked serious

24%Recovered

5.2%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

154 66%

1–2 days

37 16%

3–7 days

13 5.6%

1–4 weeks

15 6.4%

Over a month

15 6.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

58 23%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.4%

Still unwell when reported

137 55%

Died

3 1.2%

Euthanised

10 4.0%

Not known

40 16%

Problems reported at the same time

119 48%

77 31%

67 27%

44 18%

31 12%

30 12%

29 12%

22 8.8%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Sarolaner kills fleas, ticks and some mites; monthly.

Products with this ingredient include Simparica. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

In 2018 the FDA alerted owners and vets that isoxazoline products have been associated with neurologic reactions such as muscle tremors, wobbliness (ataxia) and seizures, including in animals with no history of them.

Questions owners ask

Can Sarolaner cause falling in dogs?: 249 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 the same 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).

Falling with similar medicines

Falling after Fluralaner (Bravecto) 553 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Falling after Afoxolaner (NexGard) 418 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Falling after Lotilaner (Credelio) 87 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Falling after Afoxolaner + Moxidectin + Pyrantel (NexGard PLUS) 35 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Falling after Lotilaner + Moxidectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Credelio Quattro) 27 reports · 0.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Sarolaner in dogs · Medicines most reported with falling