Hyperglycaemia after Ivermectin (Heartgard) in dogs

The FDA has received 77 reports of hyperglycaemia in dogs after Ivermectin. That is 0.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines.

77Reports

58%Marked serious

25%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

61 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 7.7%

1–2 days

1 1.9%

3–7 days

4 7.7%

1–4 weeks

7 13%

Over a month

36 69%

How the animals did

Recovered

12 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

7 9.1%

Still unwell when reported

22 29%

Died

6 7.8%

Euthanised

8 10%

Not known

22 29%

Problems reported at the same time

29 38%

27 35%

23 30%

21 27%

18 23%

17 22%

17 22%

17 22%

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 hyperglycaemia in dogs?: 77 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 61 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).

Hyperglycaemia with similar medicines

Hyperglycaemia after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 225 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 356 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 208 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 77 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 51 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Selamectin (Revolution) 58 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 23 reports · 0.3% of its reports

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