Wobbliness (ataxia) after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) in dogs

The FDA has received 1,147 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs after Moxidectin. That is 2.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

1,147Reports

38%Marked serious

14%Recovered

15%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

332 55%

1–2 days

96 16%

3–7 days

60 9.9%

1–4 weeks

52 8.6%

Over a month

65 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

158 14%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

352 31%

Died

122 11%

Euthanised

45 3.9%

Not known

468 41%

Problems reported at the same time

354 31%

322 28%

210 18%

189 16%

182 16%

167 15%

163 14%

137 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

384

4–7 years

286

8–11 years

188

12+ years

114

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in dogs?: 1,147 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 1,346 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 2,821 reports · 2.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 533 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 712 reports · 2.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Selamectin (Revolution) 622 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 1,237 reports · 10% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 119 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 24 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ivermectin + Praziquantel 81 reports · 40% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Eprinomectin 30 reports · 29% of its reports

All reported side effects of Moxidectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)