Head bobbing after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) in dogs

The FDA has received 32 reports of head bobbing in dogs after Moxidectin. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

32Reports

56%Marked serious

22%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

11 42%

1–2 days

6 23%

3–7 days

4 15%

1–4 weeks

4 15%

Over a month

1 3.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 22%

Still unwell when reported

13 41%

Died

1 3.1%

Euthanised

3 9.4%

Not known

8 25%

Problems reported at the same time

12 38%

9 28%

9 28%

7 22%

6 19%

6 19%

5 16%

5 16%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

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 head bobbing in dogs?: 32 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 1 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).

Head bobbing with similar medicines

Head bobbing after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 115 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Head bobbing after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 170 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Head bobbing after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 54 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Head bobbing after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 33 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Head bobbing after Selamectin (Revolution) 27 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Head bobbing after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 23 reports · 0.2% of its reports

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