Pyoderma after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) in dogs

The FDA has received 61 reports of pyoderma in dogs after Ivermectin + Pyrantel. That is 0.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

61Reports

61%Marked serious

20%Recovered

6.6%Died or euthanised

55 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 15%

1–2 days

2 7.7%

3–7 days

1 3.8%

1–4 weeks

4 15%

Over a month

15 58%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 6.6%

Still unwell when reported

9 15%

Died

1 1.6%

Euthanised

3 4.9%

Not known

36 59%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

26 43%

Skin rash or irritation

21 34%

14 23%

11 18%

9 15%

9 15%

7 11%

7 11%

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 pyoderma in dogs?: 61 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 55 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).

Pyoderma with similar medicines

Pyoderma after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 166 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Pyoderma after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 67 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Pyoderma after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 38 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Pyoderma after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 28 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Pyoderma after Selamectin (Revolution) 101 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Pyoderma after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 28 reports · 0.2% of its reports

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