Unpalatable after Spinosad (Comfortis) in dogs

1,167 reports to the FDA describe unpalatable in dogs given Spinosad. That is 2.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

1,167Reports

2.9%Marked serious

27%Recovered

1.6%Died or euthanised

13 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

104 39%

1–2 days

13 4.9%

3–7 days

12 4.5%

1–4 weeks

33 12%

Over a month

106 40%

How the animals did

Recovered

247 21%

Recovered with lasting effects

72 6.2%

Still unwell when reported

22 1.9%

Died

12 1.0%

Euthanised

7 0.6%

Not known

807 69%

Problems reported at the same time

497 43%

480 41%

128 11%

90 7.7%

77 6.6%

52 4.5%

Didn't work as expected

50 4.3%

Drug dose omission

44 3.8%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

321

4–7 years

322

8–11 years

179

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 unpalatable in dogs?: 1,167 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 13 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).

Unpalatable with similar medicines

Unpalatable after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 31 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Unpalatable after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 32 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Unpalatable after Imidacloprid 26 reports · 1.4% of its reports

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