Pancreatitis after Ivermectin (Heartgard) in dogs

The FDA has received 35 reports of pancreatitis in dogs after Ivermectin. That is 0.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

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How soon it started

How the animals did

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

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 pancreatitis in dogs?

35 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 26 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).

Pancreatitis with similar medicines

• Pancreatitis after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 192 reports · 0.1% of its reports
• Pancreatitis after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 358 reports · 0.3% of its reports
• Pancreatitis after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 139 reports · 0.3% of its reports
• Pancreatitis after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 74 reports · 0.2% of its reports
• Pancreatitis after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 59 reports · 0.2% of its reports
• Pancreatitis after Selamectin (Revolution) 43 reports · 0.1% of its reports

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