Respiratory distress after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) in dogs

The FDA has received 115 reports of respiratory distress in dogs after Moxidectin. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

115Reports
73%Marked serious
23%Recovered
40%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
64 79%
1–2 days
5 6.2%
3–7 days
6 7.4%
1–4 weeks
2 2.5%
Over a month
4 4.9%

How the animals did

Recovered
26 23%
Still unwell when reported
28 24%
Died
33 29%
Euthanised
13 11%
Not known
15 13%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
7
1–3 years
43
4–7 years
30
8–11 years
23
12+ years
10

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 respiratory distress in dogs?
115 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).

Respiratory distress with similar medicines

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