General illness after Spinosad (Comfortis) in dogs

The FDA has received 86 reports of general illness in dogs after Spinosad. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

86Reports

42%Marked serious

42%Recovered

16%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

32 53%

1–2 days

2 3.3%

3–7 days

1 1.7%

1–4 weeks

5 8.3%

Over a month

20 33%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 28%

Recovered with lasting effects

12 14%

Still unwell when reported

7 8.1%

Died

10 12%

Euthanised

4 4.7%

Not known

29 34%

Problems reported at the same time

40 47%

18 21%

16 19%

14 16%

10 12%

9 10%

7 8.1%

7 8.1%

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 general illness in dogs?: 86 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).

General illness with similar medicines

General illness after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 22 reports · 0.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Spinosad in dogs · Medicines most reported with general illness