Lameness after Melarsomine (Immiticide) in dogs

The FDA has received 261 reports of lameness in dogs after Melarsomine. That is 1.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

261Reports

38%Marked serious

6.5%Recovered

5.0%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

56 42%

1–2 days

15 11%

3–7 days

8 6.0%

1–4 weeks

16 12%

Over a month

38 29%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 5.7%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 0.8%

Still unwell when reported

57 22%

Died

9 3.4%

Euthanised

4 1.5%

Not known

174 67%

Problems reported at the same time

Injection site reaction

68 26%

56 21%

55 21%

32 12%

31 12%

25 9.6%

24 9.2%

24 9.2%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

110

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Melarsomine treats adult heartworm infection (a series of injections given by a vet).

Products with this ingredient include Immiticide, Diroban. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Melarsomine cause lameness in dogs?: 261 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 2 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 181 reports · 3.3% of its reports
Lameness after Diphenhydramine 133 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Lameness after Butorphanol 125 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Lameness after Cefpodoxime 75 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Lameness after Tramadol 145 reports · 3.8% of its reports
Lameness after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 23 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Lameness after Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate 41 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Lameness after Propofol 54 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Lameness after Dirlotapide 21 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Lameness after Isoflurane 22 reports · 0.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Melarsomine in dogs · Medicines most reported with lameness