Skin scab after Melarsomine (Immiticide) in dogs

The FDA has received 34 reports of skin scab in dogs after Melarsomine. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

34Reports
35%Marked serious
2.9%Recovered
2.9%Died or euthanised
32 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
1 4.2%
1–2 days
1 4.2%
3–7 days
3 13%
1–4 weeks
5 21%
Over a month
14 58%

How the animals did

Recovered
1 2.9%
Still unwell when reported
12 35%
Died
1 2.9%
Not known
20 59%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
1
1–3 years
19
4–7 years
8
8–11 years
3
12+ years
2

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 skin scab in dogs?
34 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 32 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).

Skin scab with similar medicines

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