Flea and tick prevention is essential, but for dogs with epilepsy, it’s important to understand how certain medications might interact with the nervous system. Below are trusted resources to help you make informed decisions for your dog.

FDA Fact Sheet for Pet Owners & Veterinarians (Aug 2023)
A comprehensive fact sheet providing an overview of the neurologic risks associated with isoxazoline flea and tick products, including tremors, ataxia, and seizures—even in animals without prior seizure history.
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/fact-sheet-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-adverse-events-associated-isoxazoline-flea

FDA Animal Drug Safety Communication (Sept 20, 2018; updated Apr 22, 2019)
An FDA alert to veterinarians and pet owners highlighting neurologic adverse events seen across isoxazoline medications (Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica, Credelio, Revolution Plus), with recommended labeling updates.
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/animal-drug-safety-communication-fda-alerts-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-neurologic 

Zhou X et al. (2021) – Current review of isoxazoline ectoparasiticides used in veterinary medicine
A thorough, peer-reviewed review covering pharmacodynamics, safety, and the neurological impact of isoxazoline drugs (afoxolaner, fluralaner, sarolaner, lotilaner) in dogs—specifically noting both insect efficacy and mammalian safety implications.
Read the full review (Wiley-J Vet Pharmacol Therap. 2021)

Project Jake Survey (Palmieri et al., 2020)
A large-scale veterinary and pet-owner survey reporting real-world adverse events—such as seizures—following isoxazoline use. It highlights significant neurotoxic reactions and provides valuable field data.
Read the survey results (PMC)

GABA Receptor Mechanism – Merck Veterinary Manual (2024). Read the full Merck Manual article, Isoxazoline Toxicosis in Animals. “Isoxazolines are a new class of ectoparasiticides… they target GABA-gated chloride channels in parasites, and although binding is much more selective in insects, similar receptors exist in mammals—including dogs.” pubs.acs.org+9merckvetmanual.com+9pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+9

FDA Adverse Event Reporting for Animal Drugs & Devices (Sept 2024)
This FDA page explains how pet owners and veterinarians can report side effects—such as seizures, tremors, or other unexpected reactions—to flea and tick medications regulated by the FDA.
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/report-problem/how-report-animal-drug-and-device-side-effects-and-product-problems hemopet.org+3