Urinary incontinence after Ivermectin (Heartgard) in dogs

46 reports to the FDA describe urinary incontinence in dogs given Ivermectin. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

46Reports

50%Marked serious

28%Recovered

15%Died or euthanised

11 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

7 26%

1–2 days

2 7.4%

3–7 days

2 7.4%

1–4 weeks

6 22%

Over a month

10 37%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 24%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 4.3%

Still unwell when reported

9 20%

Died

1 2.2%

Euthanised

6 13%

Not known

17 37%

Problems reported at the same time

14 30%

13 28%

12 26%

12 26%

12 26%

10 22%

8 17%

7 15%

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 urinary incontinence in dogs?: 46 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 11 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).

Urinary incontinence with similar medicines

Urinary incontinence after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 190 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 309 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 171 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 112 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 86 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Urinary incontinence after Selamectin (Revolution) 86 reports · 0.3% of its reports

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