Drug profile

The FDA adverse-event record for Unspecified Topical Flea Treatment

12 adverse-event reports submitted to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine reference Unspecified Topical Flea Treatment. See the species affected, top reactions, and outcomes below.

12
adverse-event reports
8.3%
death-coded share
Cat
most-reported species
8
Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea - top reaction
Verify with FDA CVM →
Important: Adverse event reports do not establish that a drug caused or contributed to the event. Consult your veterinarian before making treatment decisions.
12
Total Reports
1
Deaths Reported
8.3%
Death Rate

Active Ingredients

Unspecified Topical Flea Treatment

Administration Routes

Topical

Species Affected

Cat 6
Dog 6

Most Affected Breeds

Chihuahua 2
Cat (unknown) 2
Domestic Shorthair 2
Dachshund (unspecified) 2
Domestic Longhair 1
Domestic Mediumhair 1
Rottweiler 1
Dog (unknown) 1

Most Reported Reactions

Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea 8
Sleepiness - systemic disorder 3
Foaming at the mouth 1
Emesis 1
Death 1
Behavioural disorder NOS 1

Outcome Breakdown

Outcome Unknown
8 (66.7%)
Recovered/Normal
3 (25.0%)
Died
1 (8.3%)

Unspecified Topical Flea Treatment Adverse Event Insights

12 reports name Unspecified Topical Flea Treatment; 1 recorded a death outcome (8.3% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). Active ingredient: Unspecified Topical Flea Treatment. Administration route: Topical.

By species: Cat (6 reports), Dog (6 reports). By breed: Chihuahua (2), Cat (unknown) (2), Domestic Shorthair (2).

Leading clinical signs: Lack of efficacy (ectoparasite) - flea (8), Sleepiness - systemic disorder (3), Foaming at the mouth (1), Emesis (1). Outcome, 12 coded reports: Outcome Unknown leads at 66.7%.

Read these counts as reporting volume, not risk: per our methodology, a widely-prescribed drug will rack up more raw FDA reports in a given year than a rarely-used one at an identical true rate, so we recommend comparing within similar-exposure products rather than across the full 2025 catalog.

Source: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine openFDA Animal & Veterinary Adverse Events (CVM AER) · 2025

Every figure on PlainBreed is rendered directly from FDA openFDA adverse event data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FDA openFDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.