Circling - neurological disorder after Spinosad (Comfortis) in dogs

The FDA has received 88 reports of circling - neurological disorder in dogs after Spinosad. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

88Reports
40%Marked serious
26%Recovered
19%Died or euthanised
6 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
13 33%
1–2 days
5 13%
3–7 days
3 7.7%
1–4 weeks
4 10%
Over a month
14 36%

How the animals did

Recovered
15 17%
Recovered with lasting effects
8 9.1%
Still unwell when reported
7 8.0%
Died
6 6.8%
Euthanised
11 13%
Not known
41 47%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
3
1–3 years
12
4–7 years
33
8–11 years
25
12+ years
14

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 circling - neurological disorder in dogs?
88 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 6 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).

Circling - neurological disorder with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Spinosad in dogs · Medicines most reported with circling - neurological disorder