Cyanosis after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) in dogs

The FDA has received 206 reports of cyanosis in dogs after Moxidectin. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

206Reports
74%Marked serious
31%Recovered
22%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
149 90%
1–2 days
5 3.0%
3–7 days
3 1.8%
1–4 weeks
3 1.8%
Over a month
6 3.6%

How the animals did

Recovered
63 31%
Still unwell when reported
64 31%
Died
36 17%
Euthanised
10 4.9%
Not known
33 16%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
13
1–3 years
89
4–7 years
58
8–11 years
26
12+ years
16

About this medicine

Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease (monthly topical, or a 6- or 12-month injection for dogs).

Products with this ingredient include ProHeart 6, ProHeart 12. 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 Moxidectin cause cyanosis in dogs?
206 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 the same day 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).

Cyanosis with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Moxidectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with cyanosis