Abnormal posture after Spinosad (Comfortis) in dogs

The FDA has received 211 reports of abnormal posture in dogs after Spinosad. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines.

211Reports

37%Marked serious

57%Recovered

8.5%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

76 49%

1–2 days

9 5.8%

3–7 days

2 1.3%

1–4 weeks

10 6.5%

Over a month

57 37%

How the animals did

Recovered

93 44%

Recovered with lasting effects

27 13%

Still unwell when reported

9 4.3%

Died

12 5.7%

Euthanised

6 2.8%

Not known

64 30%

Problems reported at the same time

91 43%

65 31%

57 27%

53 25%

47 22%

38 18%

32 15%

29 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Spinosad kills fleas; monthly chewable.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Spinosad cause abnormal posture in dogs?: 211 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).

Abnormal posture with similar medicines

Abnormal posture after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 34 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Abnormal posture after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 37 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Abnormal posture after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 30 reports · 0.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Spinosad in dogs · Medicines most reported with abnormal posture