Unpalatable after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) in dogs

647 reports to the FDA describe unpalatable in dogs given Ivermectin + Pyrantel. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

647Reports

4.0%Marked serious

30%Recovered

0.6%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

56 70%

1–2 days

2 2.5%

3–7 days

3 3.8%

1–4 weeks

6 7.5%

Over a month

13 16%

How the animals did

Recovered

190 29%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 0.6%

Still unwell when reported

17 2.6%

Died

3 0.5%

Euthanised

1 0.2%

Not known

432 67%

Problems reported at the same time

Product defect, general

133 21%

123 19%

62 9.6%

22 3.4%

17 2.6%

Didn't prevent heartworm

17 2.6%

Loss of appetite

15 2.3%

Lethargy

14 2.2%

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 unpalatable in dogs?: 647 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).

Unpalatable with similar medicines

Unpalatable after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 2,574 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Unpalatable after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 183 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Unpalatable after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 45 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Unpalatable after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 84 reports · 0.7% of its reports

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