Eye or vision problems after Ivermectin (Heartgard) in dogs

958 reports to the FDA describe eye or vision problems in dogs given Ivermectin. That is 8.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

958Reports

28%Marked serious

20%Recovered

7.6%Died or euthanised

19 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

51 20%

1–2 days

37 14%

3–7 days

14 5.5%

1–4 weeks

42 16%

Over a month

112 44%

How the animals did

Recovered

150 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

45 4.7%

Still unwell when reported

36 3.8%

Died

63 6.6%

Euthanised

10 1.0%

Not known

654 68%

Problems reported at the same time

504 53%

273 28%

212 22%

145 15%

145 15%

140 15%

90 9.4%

Labelled drug-drug interaction medication error

80 8.4%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

256

1–3 years

293

4–7 years

155

8–11 years

104

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 eye or vision problems in dogs?: 958 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 19 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).

Eye or vision problems with similar medicines

Eye or vision problems after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 378 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 486 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 252 reports · 0.5% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 70 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 88 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Selamectin (Revolution) 126 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 34 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Ivermectin + Praziquantel 95 reports · 47% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Eprinomectin 81 reports · 77% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ivermectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with eye or vision problems