Polypnoea after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) in dogs

The FDA has received 144 reports of polypnoea in dogs after Ivermectin + Pyrantel. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

144Reports
1.4%Marked serious
0.7%Recovered
9.7%Died or euthanised
–Typical onset
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How the animals did

Recovered with lasting effects
1 0.7%
Died
14 9.7%
Not known
129 90%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
9
1–3 years
30
4–7 years
46
8–11 years
31
12+ years
14

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 polypnoea in dogs?
144 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.
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).

Polypnoea with similar medicines

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