Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Praziquantel in dogs

The FDA has received 81 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs after Ivermectin + Praziquantel. That is 40% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

81Reports

27%Marked serious

6.2%Recovered

6.2%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 72%

1–2 days

5 28%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 4.9%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.2%

Still unwell when reported

2 2.5%

Died

5 6.2%

Not known

69 85%

Problems reported at the same time

Eye or vision problems

50 62%

25 31%

21 26%

16 20%

11 14%

Drooling

8 9.9%

Disorientation

8 9.9%

Seizures

6 7.4%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Ivermectin prevents heartworm disease (monthly). Praziquantel treats tapeworms.

Some herding breeds (for example Collies) carry the MDR1 gene variant and can be more sensitive to this drug class at high doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Ivermectin + Praziquantel cause wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 81 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 the same day 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 1,346 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 2,821 reports · 2.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 1,147 reports · 2.3% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 533 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 712 reports · 2.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Selamectin (Revolution) 622 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 1,237 reports · 10% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 119 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 24 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Eprinomectin 30 reports · 29% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ivermectin + Praziquantel in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)