Kidney problems after Spinosad (Comfortis) in dogs

The FDA has received 439 reports of kidney problems in dogs after Spinosad. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

439Reports

55%Marked serious

16%Recovered

38%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

59 34%

1–2 days

31 18%

3–7 days

6 3.4%

1–4 weeks

9 5.2%

Over a month

69 40%

How the animals did

Recovered

21 4.8%

Recovered with lasting effects

51 12%

Still unwell when reported

52 12%

Died

103 23%

Euthanised

65 15%

Not known

147 33%

Problems reported at the same time

222 51%

184 42%

183 42%

180 41%

166 38%

99 23%

80 18%

77 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

123

12+ years

121

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 kidney problems in dogs?: 439 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 2 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 162 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Kidney problems after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 106 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 55 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Kidney problems after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 46 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Kidney problems after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 31 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Kidney problems after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 27 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Kidney problems after Fipronil 30 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Kidney problems after Lufenuron 25 reports · 2.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Spinosad in dogs · Medicines most reported with kidney problems