Kidney problems after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) in dogs

The FDA has received 840 reports of kidney problems in dogs after Moxidectin. That is 1.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

840Reports

46%Marked serious

3.0%Recovered

44%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

136 30%

1–2 days

101 22%

3–7 days

64 14%

1–4 weeks

66 15%

Over a month

85 19%

How the animals did

Recovered

25 3.0%

Still unwell when reported

276 33%

Died

254 30%

Euthanised

119 14%

Not known

166 20%

Problems reported at the same time

422 50%

408 49%

399 48%

376 45%

376 45%

235 28%

207 25%

177 21%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

188

4–7 years

265

8–11 years

218

12+ years

134

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 kidney problems in dogs?: 840 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 619 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Kidney problems after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 865 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Kidney problems after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 256 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 243 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Selamectin (Revolution) 257 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Kidney problems after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 187 reports · 1.6% of its reports
Kidney problems after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 37 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Kidney problems after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 26 reports · 2.2% of its reports

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