Tooth disorder after Spinosad (Comfortis) in dogs

45 reports to the FDA describe tooth disorder in dogs given Spinosad. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines.

45Reports

67%Marked serious

29%Recovered

24%Died or euthanised

121 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 17%

1–2 days

3 13%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

1 4.3%

Over a month

15 65%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 4.4%

Recovered with lasting effects

11 24%

Still unwell when reported

7 16%

Died

8 18%

Euthanised

3 6.7%

Not known

14 31%

Problems reported at the same time

15 33%

14 31%

13 29%

11 24%

9 20%

9 20%

9 20%

9 20%

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 tooth disorder in dogs?: 45 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 121 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).

Tooth disorder with similar medicines

Tooth disorder after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 20 reports · 0.2% of its reports

All reported side effects of Spinosad in dogs · Medicines most reported with tooth disorder