Adipsia after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) in dogs

198 reports to the FDA describe adipsia in dogs given Ivermectin + Pyrantel. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

198Reports

43%Marked serious

22%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 29%

1–2 days

8 11%

3–7 days

6 8.3%

1–4 weeks

12 17%

Over a month

25 35%

How the animals did

Recovered

43 22%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

15 7.6%

Died

15 7.6%

Euthanised

8 4.0%

Not known

116 59%

Problems reported at the same time

176 89%

104 53%

82 41%

49 25%

25 13%

25 13%

18 9.1%

18 9.1%

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). Pyrantel treats roundworms and hookworms.

Products with this combination include Heartgard Plus, Tri-Heart Plus, Iverhart Plus. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

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 + Pyrantel cause adipsia in dogs?: 198 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 10 days 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).

Adipsia with similar medicines

Adipsia after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 501 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Adipsia after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 147 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Adipsia after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 37 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Adipsia after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 48 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Adipsia after Selamectin (Revolution) 67 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Adipsia after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 48 reports · 0.4% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ivermectin + Pyrantel in dogs · Medicines most reported with adipsia