Reaction profile

The FDA adverse-event record for fly biting behaviour

523 FDA adverse-event reports reference fly biting behaviour (VeDDRA 2469). See the species, breeds, and drugs most associated with it below.

523
reports citing this reaction
5.5%
death-coded share
Dog
most-affected species
Afoxolaner
most-associated drug
Verify with FDA CVM →
523
Total Reports
29
Deaths
5.5%
Death Rate

Species Most Affected

Dog 513
Cat 7
Horse 3

Breeds Most Affected

Retriever - Labrador 51
Crossbred Canine/dog 47
Retriever - Golden 27
Chihuahua 26
Shepherd Dog - German 23
Mountain Dog - Bernese 20
Spaniel - King Charles Cavalier 15
Terrier - Yorkshire 14
Shepherd Dog - Australian 12
Schnauzer - Miniature 12

Associated Drugs

Afoxolaner 104
Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner 93
Sarolaner 77
Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew 51
Fluralaner Chew Tablets 35
Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad 32
Ivermectin + Pyrantel As Pamoate Salt 30
Oclacitinib Maleate 19
Lotilaner 15
Moxidectin 14
Ivermectin 12
Anti-Il31 Mab Mcs Lot #1283563 12
Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel 11
Selamectin 8
Carprofen 8
Fluralaner 5.46% 1-Month Chew 8
Milbemycin Oxime 7
Bedinvetmab 7
Spinosad 6
Metronidazole 6

Fly biting behaviour Reaction Insights

523 reports name Fly biting behaviour; 29 recorded a death outcome (5.5% of reported events, not a population-level mortality rate). VeDDRA code: 2469.

By species: Dog (513 reports), Cat (7 reports), Horse (3 reports). By breed: Retriever - Labrador (51), Crossbred Canine/dog (47), Retriever - Golden (27).

Most co-reported drugs: Afoxolaner (104 reports), Pyrantel Pamoate;Sarolaner (93 reports), Sarolaner (77 reports), Fluralaner 13.64% 12-Week Chew (51 reports).

Read these counts as reporting volume, not risk: per our methodology, co-reporting reflects temporal association captured in voluntary submissions, not proof that a drug caused this reaction. A widely-prescribed drug will rack up more raw co-reports at an identical true rate than a rarely-used one, so compare within similar-exposure products.

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.