Elevated lipase after Ivermectin (Heartgard) in dogs

The FDA has received 28 reports of elevated lipase in dogs after Ivermectin. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines.

28Reports

75%Marked serious

18%Recovered

32%Died or euthanised

47 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

3 20%

1–2 days

1 6.7%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

1 6.7%

Over a month

10 67%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 3.6%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 14%

Still unwell when reported

9 32%

Died

2 7.1%

Euthanised

7 25%

Not known

5 18%

Problems reported at the same time

15 54%

14 50%

14 50%

12 43%

12 43%

10 36%

9 32%

9 32%

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 elevated lipase in dogs?: 28 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 47 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).

Elevated lipase with similar medicines

Elevated lipase after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 107 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 128 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 108 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 38 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 48 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Elevated lipase after Selamectin (Revolution) 27 reports · 0.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ivermectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with elevated lipase