Drug administration error after Ivermectin (Heartgard) in dogs

39 reports to the FDA describe drug administration error in dogs given Ivermectin. That is 0.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

39Reports

23%Marked serious

36%Recovered

5.1%Died or euthanised

7 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 38%

1–2 days

1 7.7%

3–7 days

1 7.7%

1–4 weeks

2 15%

Over a month

4 31%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 26%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 10%

Still unwell when reported

7 18%

Died

2 5.1%

Not known

16 41%

Problems reported at the same time

Vomiting

13 33%

Didn't prevent heartworm

10 26%

Lethargy

9 23%

Wobbliness (ataxia)

7 18%

Eye or vision problems

5 13%

Underdose

5 13%

Tremors

5 13%

Hypothermia

4 10%

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).

Products with this ingredient include Heartgard. 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 cause drug administration error in dogs?: 39 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 7 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).

Drug administration error with similar medicines

Drug administration error after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 96 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Drug administration error after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 219 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Drug administration error after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 35 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Drug administration error after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 28 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Drug administration error after Selamectin (Revolution) 93 reports · 0.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ivermectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with drug administration error