If you give your pet flea or tick pills, listen up: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just issued a warning to dog and cat owners that certain types of these meds might be doing some scary damage to our beloved furry friends.

The type of flea and tick drugs that are in the isoxazoline class are the ones that are to blame. The FDA says this pesticide can cause symptoms in dogs and cats include ataxia (a lack of muscle control that can cause stumbling) as well as seizures and muscle tremors.

Isoxazoline includes products sold under the following brand names:

While these products are FDA-approved to use for flea and tick infestations for your pets, and they already mention the risk of neurological side effects on the label, the FDA wants to be making sure pet owners know the risk and are being vigilant in their decisions of which to use.

“The FDA considers products in the isoxazoline class to be safe and effective for dogs and cats but is providing this information so that pet owners and veterinarians can take it into consideration when choosing flea and tick products for their pets,” the alert clarified.

If you notice your dog or cat acting a bit strange or experiencing any of these symptoms after receiving their isoxazoline flea or tick treatment, contact your veterinarian immediately for further evaluation. Or if you’d like to report any suspected adverse drug events for these products here are the numbers for each manufacturer:

For more information on this matter, email AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov or call 240-402-7002.

Have you ever had your dog or cat experience adverse symptoms to tick or flea preventatives? What kind of drugs do you use to prevent ticks or fleas in your pet?

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