evelin

DEAR STEVE, GOOD ON YOU FOR ALL THE RESEARCH YOU HAVE DONE AND THAT YOU ARE SHARING IT WITH OTHER PET OWNERS. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT RESEARCHING THE DRUG AND NOT THE PRODUCT. VETS DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THIS RESEARCH AND REALLY DO DEPEND ON THE MANUFACTURERS FOR INFORMATION. YOU ARE DEFINITELY ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO PROTECTING YOUR DOGS. DID YOU EVER REPORT THE ADVERSE REACTIONS YOUR DOGS HAD? IF NOT, WOULD YOU CONSIDER LETTING THE APVMA KNOW? THEY ARE KEEN FOR FEEDBACK FROM PET OWNERS. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD ME AFTER I SPOKE TO THEM. ALL REPORTS OR DISCUSSIONS ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND IT WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM TO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO LOOK INTO. IF WE, AS PET OWNERS, SPEAK UP FOR OUR ANIMALS, THE APVMA WILL LISTEN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. IF THEY HAVE NO FEED BACK OR ADVERSE REACTION REPORTS FROM PET OWNERS, THEY ARE UNAWARE THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG. WE NEED TO HELP THEM IF THEY ARE TO HELP US. IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF ALL THE REPORTS FROM PET OWNERS AND/OR THEIR VETS IN THE U.S. THAT MADE THE FDA OVER THERE TAKE THE PRODUCT (6 MONTHLY INJECTION) OFF THE MARKET. IN CANADA, ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL ON THE MARKET, THEY HAVE RELABELLED IT WITH THE FOLLOWING, AND ARE MONITORING IT CLOSELY: "BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS AND THE ABSENCE OF IDENTIFIABLE RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE REACTIONS, PROHEART 6 IS ONLY INDICATED FOR THOSE DOGS IN WHICH ALTERNATIVE PREVENTATIVES CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTERED". YOU CAN CHECK THIS YOURSELF ON THIS OFFICIAL HEALTH CANADA LINK: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/vet/advers-...e_a_jour_e.html REMEMBER THAT, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS, FORT DODGE/WYETH: "PROHEART 12 HAS GAINED A 47% MARKET SHARE IN AUSTRALIA, WHERE IT OFFERS 12 MONTHS OF PROTECTION AND CONTAINS 3 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MOXIDECTIN AS PROHEART 6". THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM FORT DODGE AUSTRALIA AND SO THE PRODUCTS ARE THE SAME EXCEPT THAT THE 12 MONTHS VERSION HAS MORE MOXIDECTIN IN IT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES AND ALL THE GOOD INFORMATION THAT I AM SURE WILL BE OF GREAT HELP TO EVERYONE. EVELIN

HI HESAPANDABEAR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES. AS FAR AS THE HEARTWORM INJECTION GOES, THE MANUFACTURERS STATE THAT IT IS SAFE TO USE ON IVERMECTIN SENSITIVE COLLIES. PLEASE READ THESE LINKS FOR MORE INFO. http://www.dogsadversereactions.com http://www.thepetguardian.com/html/body_vm...ech_rogers.html ALSO IF YOU RING THE APVMA ON (02) 6210 4810 OR EMAIL ROBYN SCHIPP AT [email protected] SHE CAN GIVE YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION. (THIS IS OUR OWN AUSTRALIAN PESTICIDES AND VETERINARY MEDICINE AUTHORITY AND THEY MONITOR EVERYTHING). THEIR WEBSITE IS http://www.apvma.gov.au and their response to the recall of the 6 monthly injection in the U.S. in 2004 is on this link: http://www.apvma.gov.au/qa/proheart.shtml HOPING THIS IS OF SOME HELP. EVELIN

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES AND THE INFO YOU HAVE GIVEN. MOST VETS HERE THINK THE INJECTION IS SAFE. MY VETS WILL NOT USE IT AGAIN AND THE WHOLE VET CLINIC IS IN SHOCK. WE ARE WAITING FOR RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. YOU CAN FIND A LOT OF INFO ON THE FOLLOWING SITE; http://www.dogsadversereactions.com TOBIE'S MEMORIAL IS ALSO ON THIS SITE WHICH WAS STARTED BY A LADY IN THE U.S. WHOSE DOG ALMOST DIED FROM THE INJECTION. THERE ARE MANY OTHER MEMORIALS ON THIS SITE AND LOTS OF INFO ON MOXIDECTIN, WHICH IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN THE INJECTIONS. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS, THE 6 MONTH (NOW OFF THE MARKET IN THE U.S. SINCE 2004) AND THE 12 MONTH THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTRALIA ARE THE SAME, EXCEPT THAT THE 12 MONTHLY INJECTION HAS 3 TIMES THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT MOXIDECTIN IN IT. FORT DODGE AUSTRALIA SENT ME THIS INFORMATION THEMSELVES AFTER I INQUIRED ABOUT IT. OF COURSE THEY ARE VERY DEFENSIVE ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT. HOWEVER THEY DID REPORT TOBIE'S DEATH TO THE APVMA, AS DID MY VET, SO IT IS BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. A PRODUCT WHICH IS UNPROVEN AND CAUSED 5,500 ADVERSE REACTIONS AND 599 DEATHS IN THE U.S. SHOULD NOT BE USED IN OUR OPINION, UNTIL IT IS PROVEN TO BE PERFECTLY SAFE. GOOD ON YOU FOR STAYING WITH THE MONTHLY CHEWABLES. HAD I DONE THAT, MY TOBIE WOULD STILL BE WITH US. YOU CAN GOOGLE MOXIDECTIN AND ALSO GET INFO. IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS I HAVE A LOT OF RESEARCH MATERIAL AT HAND NOW. ALL TOO LATE OF COURSE FOR LITTLE TOBIE. BUT IF THAT RESEARCH INFO CAN SAVE OTHERS, HIS DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN. ANOTHER INTERESTING SITE IS THE SPEECH GIVEN BY THE VET TO THE FDA (FEDERAL DRUG AUTHORITY) IN THE U.S. AFTER THE 6 MONTHLY PRODUCT WAS TAKEN OFF THE MARKET THERE: http://www.thepetguardian.com/html/body_vm...ech_rogers.html YOU CAN SHOW THIS INFO TO YOUR VET. IT IS ALL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTED INFORMATION THAT ANYONE CAN GET. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS. EVELIN

HI VANESSA, TOBIE WAS A BORDER COLLIE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS. EVELIN

HOPE THIS INFO WILL BE OF HELP AND KEEP YOU ALERT. THANK YOU FOR THE CONDOLENCES.

HI MORGAN, THANKS FOR YOUR SYMPATHY. WE ARE FINDING IT VERY HARD TO GET OVER TOBIE'S DEATH, ESPECIALLY AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD WE BEEN MORE INFORMED. I THINK HERE IN OZ WE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT HAS GONE ON OVERSEAS. IT IS ALL THERE ON THE INTERNET, IN OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION IF WE KNOW WHERE TO LOOK, BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START. WE NEED TO BE MORE VIGILANT AND ALSO VOCAL ABOUT ADVERSE REACTIONS. REPORTING THEM TO THE APVMA IS A GOOD START AS THEY REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD ME IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS EVELIN

Tobie died of Immune Mediated Thromobcytopenia 6 weeks after the heartworm injection. This is an auto-immune disease, one of several similar reactions seen by vets after administration of the heartworm injection. He had hardly any platelets in his blood, his white blood count was up and the red was down.The year before after his first heartworm injection, he developed Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, also one of the reactions seen by vets after the heartworm injection. At the time we were unaware of the cause. Here are some links that will give you more info: http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/moxide.../reactions.html http://www.dogsadversereactions.com It is important to report any reaction, even if just a rash, to the APVMA. It is just a phone call, fax or email and at least if something else goes wrong, you have some back up. The reports are all kept confidential. It is not worth taking a chance with your pet. Good luck with your boy.

Our dog Tobie's death is being investigated very seriously by the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority). This is a Government authority. The annual heartworm injection, in the opinion of our Vets and also in our opinion, was instrumental in the death of our beloved pet. In our communications with the APVMA, they have stressed strongly that they urge pet owners to report any adverse reactions, or suspected adverse reactions their pets may have to any veterinary product, whether it be the annual heartworm injection, or any other product. They need to monitor what is happening to our pets and will take reports from pet owners, not just the vets treating them. Every report will be looked into. So please, if you have an adverse reaction, or suspect one, to the heartworm injection or any other vet product, report it to the APVMA. Here are the details: APVMA Adverse Experience Reporting Program: Robyn Schipp Tel. (02) 6210 4810 Fax.(02) 6210 4813 Email: [email protected] Mail: P.O. Box E240 Kingston ACT 2604 If any of you out there are considering giving your dog the annual heartworm injection, please do some research first. Most vets believe it is safe and are unaware that it was taken off the market in the U.S. in 2004 and that in Canada, they have re-labelled it with a warning that it should only be used where alternative preventatives cannot be effectively administered: As the label states "Because of its potential for serious adverse drug reactions and the absence of identifiable risk factors associated with those reactions, ProHeart6 is only indicated for those dogs in which alternative preventatives cannot be effectively administered." You can check for yourselves on: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/vet/advers-...e_a_jour_e.html Proheart6 is the 6 monthly injection, whereas Proheart 12 is the annual injection that we have here in Australia. Proheart 12 has three times the active ingredient Moxidectin in it, according to the manufacturers Fort Dodge/Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Here is a link to a speech made to the U.S. Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee, by one of the vets involved in the case where the heartworm injection was taken off the market in the U.S. in 2004 and is still off the market. This is the SAME DRUG as we have here in Australia, according to the manufacturers, only it has THREE TIMES the active ingredient Moxidectin in it. http://www.thepetguardian.com/html/body_vm...ech_rogers.html Does anyone out there have any suspected adverse reactions? Please let me have some feedback on this. Cheers Evelin

Please be careful with the annual heartworm injection. We are suspecting it caused the death of our dog. Therefore I wouldn't recommend its use. Evelin

You'd think so Steve, but sometimes it just doesn't happen that way. This is one of those cases that goes in the category of complicated diarrhoea. From what I've read, the vet is doing the right things but I feel may not be thoroughly explaining what they are thinking and doing. For uncomplicated diarrhoea the treatment is as most people would guess (through dealining with it themselves if nothing else) withholding food for 12-24 hours, gradually reintroducing highly digestible food (like chicken and rice, or cottage cheese and rice etc). Depending on whether there is likely gastritis or whether the diarrhoea is originating from the small or large bowel, an enteric mixture like Peptosyl might be added. When diarrhoea becomes complicated, so does the diagnosis and treatment. There's a great many things that can cause it, some sinister and some not so sinister. The aim of diagnostic plans is then to start with the most likely causes, see if they can be identified, if not, move onto the next one. Often this is done therapeutically, so treatment trials - easiest first......if small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is suspected then antibiotics may be given, so even if it were some other bacterial problem - a positive response to treatment might narrow it down a little. As for the faecal culture - a great many cases will grow Salmonella - certainly can cause diarrhoea but its also normal gut flora, just like E.coli (but nearly all young animals can be killed by it.....). So its only if you're looking for something specific that it really becomes more useful to rule things in or out and thats really what making a diagnosis like this is about, getting the greatest amount of information with the least, or the most appropriate tests. It would be interesting to know if the radiographic series included a contrast study, but it would show if there were something grossly (as opposed to microscopically long). The next step after that I suppose could be ultrasound to check out the structure of the intestinal wall, lymph nodes, stomach etc for other small masses or thickening. Exploratory laparotomy is always on the list somewhere (even if at the very bottom) because you can always tell a lot more by actually seeing and palpating and biopsying everything that you can - theres no other way to do it. Then at least you can get a histologic (microscopic) diagnosis but often, that only puts a name on something that you still need to work out how to treat - and even then individual dogs will respond differently. As an example - we have a Cavalier King Charles that comes in to work who has had chronic episodic vomiting and diarrhoea for 2 or 3 years. We've done treatments trials and found him to be stable on Hill's i/d - then it started behaving differently so he was referred to a nearby specialist centre. There they did intestinal biopsy, examined the inside of the stomach and so on and found that the lining showed intense inflammation and ulceration as did the intestine. Definately the prime candidate for the diarrhoea? The pathology report said that apart from a change in structure of a couple of the glands it was essentially normal. I guess the point of this story is to just show how difficult things can become, we've got a diagnosis of "normal" but there is definately something happening......so what to do? Find something that works, treat the symptoms, stick with the treatments that result in an improvement. Unfortunately....if it is IBD, the nature of the gut being inflamed impairs its ability to function hence the need to anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids or azathioprine or cyclosporine. Also, added fibre can both help and hinder - really depends on which part of the bowel is affected. Sometimes it can bind really watery diarrhoea, sometimes it can make it worse. Also, although I know you all love your BARF (nothing against it!) the presence of food that makes the intestine work can increase the irritation to the gut lining and exacerbate the inflammation - hence food trials with low residue food, or food trials based on ingredient exlusion - sometimes it is a reflection of an atopy problem. Edit to add: My Dog Stinks - if you are going to go to another vet, consider asking your own vet for a referral to a specialist. If not, let the other vet know why you are seeking another opinion so that they can obtain your dogs record from your vet. That way the vet giving the second opinion will have a clue what has been done etc and you'll save a bit of money from not having to redo tests. Rappie, Did that Cavalier Cocker Spaniel ever have annual heartworm injections? I have posted on this site "heartworm injections adverse reactions" Please have a look as it sounds so much like what a lot of problems that people's dogs are having. My sad case has been reported and is being investigated. Cheers Evelin

Does your dog have the annual heartworm injections? Mine did and always had diahhrea and vomiting intermittantly, was always bright and happy, shiny coat and full of energy except for this problem. I found out too late that it might have been a result of the heartworm injections. We lost him a few weeks ago. Please have a full blood test done at the vets, including a Coombs test. We are highly suspicious that this death could be the result of the heartworm injection. Our vet has reported it to the manufacturers in the U.S. We are investigating it further. I have found many suspect cases on this forum. I have posted a new thread "heartworm injections adverse reactions" so if you want to have a look, my dog Tobie's story is on it. Good luck with your boy. Don't waste any time. They put my dog on Prednisone, a cortisone product. Please get the blood tests to see how low the platelets are. Let me know how you go. I am praying for your boy. :D

Does your dog have annual heartworm injections? I hope your little girl recovers. Good luck. Evelin

Which country are you in? - I gather you are in the US? I did a quick search of this site for the thread but there were far too many to sort through. Let us know what you find. It seems to be an ongoing debate. The last lot of figures I looked at showed that in reality very few deaths were reported. There was some thought that one adverse reaction was the development of epilepsy (hence my interest) but after some considerable research and many, many disucssions with my general vet and also the neurologist that treats my epi dog and countless other experts and armchair experts, I have to say I am not convinced that this injection is that bad. Puggles - I am in Australia. My vets have reported Tobie's death to the manufacturers of Proheart (Fort Dodge, a subsidiary of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in the U.S.) and the investigation is ongoing. Yes, it is an ongoing debate as you say, but in the meantime, people are losing their beloved dogs from deaths not realizing they could be possibly and probably linked to the Proheart injections . I am sadly one of them, but at least I know now to look for the connection. I would just like people to be aware. Most of the vets I spoke to recently didn't even know it was off the market in the U.S. so how are the dog-owners supposed to know? They rely on their vets for info. There were 599 reported cases of death in the U.S. What about all the unreported cases? Here is a link for the FDA Comparison info: http://dogsadversereactions.com/moxidectin/comparison2.html Am still waiting for a response from the FDA/Center for Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. regarding the ingredients of both the Proheart 6 and Proheart 12 injections to see what the difference is. Will keep you posted. Evelin

Yes of course, now that I am investigating the stuff I would never have let it near my dog. My own vet thought it was safe, as do most of the vets my friends and I have spoken to. My vet didn't know it was off the market in the U.S. until I gave him all my research on it and I believe most vets wouldn't know. Certainly the Pharmaceutical companies manufacturing it would not be mentioning it to their customers for obvious reasons. But as you said..."something designed to stay in the system all year must be pretty toxic"....and you are right and I wish to God I had been more cautious. I am hoping to hear from other dog owners whose dogs have had adverse reactions anytime after receiving this annual heartworm injection. Thank you for your input Leenie. What are the herbal heartwormer brands please? Evelin

Evelin, the reason why you don't undertsand it is becuase you need to investigate the ingredients of both PH6 and 12 and then compare them. It is not, as you think, simply a doubling of the active ingredient. Sorry I can not explain it myself but there is a thread on this forum somehwere, where a vet who is a member of this site, explained the difference in the drugs. As to the reactions to the drug - it is not as common as people think. There is so much hysteria on the web about the hw injection and most of it is exaggerated. Most of what is written about the yearly injections is written by unqualified people without evidence. There is a large amount of study based evidence on the web if anyone cares to look and they will see that the reaction to PH12 is on par with the reaction of many other drugs given to dogs in this day and age. PH6 does have a higher incidence rate however. Personally I have chosen to resort back to the monthly oral dosing only because I beleive that if anything ever does go wrong in the future, it is only a month of the drug in their system and having an epileptic dog I am always wary of other medications he may take. In saying this thoug, I have always administered the yearly preventative until now and have never seen a reaction in my dogs. Dear Puggles, thank you for your response. Every bit of info helps. Our Vets have reported it to the relevant authorities and it is being investigated and taken very seriously. I received a response today from Dr. Hampshire in the U.S. who has left the Centre for Vet. Medicine and joined another FDA centre so is not involved with Wyeth (manufacturers of Proheart) anymore. If you Google Dr. Victoria Hampshire FDA you will see how she was taken off the Proheart case when she reported all the adverse reactions and deaths to the FDA. She has forwarded my email on to someone else at the CVM but they have told me only what I have already found on the net. Proheart 12 is not approved in the U.S. Proheart 6 is still off the market in the U.S., but it is sold in Canada with new labelling. I asked DR. Hamshire to tell me the difference between the 6 and 12 but she did not respond to it. I will now email the new people at the FDA. Am doing my best to get the fact. Will keep you posted.

Thank you for that info. I wish I had known then what I know now. Evelin

We lost our Border Collie recently to Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia and we are suspecting the annual heartworm injections, also the C5 vaccinations. Our vet has reported it to the manufacturers and we are in the process of getting the info to the APVMA Adverse Experience Reporting Program. Our dog had symptoms approx. 6 weeks after each heartworm injection. Unfortunately 6 weeks after the second one, he died of a massive internal haemmorage. The whole year between injections, he had diarrhea and vomiting on a regular basis. The Vets couldn't find the reason. But now we suspect. Evelin

Dear Lillysmum, The Proheart 6 in the U.S and the Proheart SR12 for Australia were both put on the market in 2001. The Proheart SR12 has 3 times the dose of moxidectin (the main active ingredient) than the Proheart 6, yet the Proheart 6 (twice a year injections) were taken off the market in 2004 in the U.S.......yet the bigger dose Proheart SR12 is still going in Australia!!! From what I have read, not enough people are reporting adverse reactions to have this product looked at in Australia. Proheart SR12 was only ever used in Australia and Asia, whereas the Proheart 6 was used in U.S. and Canada etc. I'm not understanding why the difference, and why something 3 times the dose of the lesser drug has not been banned, looked at ,or taken off the market in Australia, whereas the lesser drug has been taken off the market in the U.S. since 2004. Go figure. Still, none of this will bring my Tobie back, but at least it might save some other dogs. Evelin

[ Hi Evelin, I am so sorry that you lost Tobie in this way. Have you reported this to the NRA Adverse Reactions in Canberra? Dear Schnauzer, Thank you so much for your condolences. The vet has reported it to the manufacturers and I have written an email to the U.S. Vet Dr. Victoria Hampshire and am waiting for a reply. It has been a big thing in the U.S. and from what I have read on the net, it is still off the market there. We are reporting it to the APVMA Adverse Experience Reporting Program here in Australia as well. I thought I might ask any other dog owners out there if their dogs have had bewildering, unexplained illnesses and/or have died after getting the heartworm injection and not making a possible connection to it. Tobie had bleeding 6 weeks after the first and second shots. The vets couldn't find any reason. In between, for the whole year, he had recurrent vomiting and diahhrea. Yet healthy shiny coat and appetitie, bright eyes, alert, ready to go anywhere...THE WHOLE TIME! If I ever work out how to use this forum, I will send a photo of my beautiful boy. Thank you again Schnauzer. Please if anyone else has any info...or adverse experiences with Proheart SR12 annual injection, let me know. Evelin

Dear Archie, We have just lost our beautiful Border Collie "Tobie" and we are in the process of investigating it. He died of Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia and we are suspecting the Proheart SR12 injection as, approx. 6 weeks after each injection he bled. A year ago through the bowels (the vets said he hadHemorrhagic Gastroenteritis) and a year after, when he had the second injection, he bled from his gums and died in my arms of a sever internal haemmorage. The vets diagnosed him with the Thromobytopenia but couldn't work out why. We had never suspected the heartworm injection before. If I were you, I would research this product on the net. It was taken off the market in the U.S. in 2004 and the Vet who brought the problems to the attention of the FDA was transferred off the case! Just Google Dr. Victoria Hampshire FDA and you will get a lot of info. Also Google Proheart SR12 adverse reactions. I personally would never recommend this injection to anybody's dogs. If I ever get over the shock and sorrow of losing my beautiful companion and get another dog, I would only use the monthly tablets. Research before you make a decision. I hope you decide NOT to give the injection. Evelin...a very bereaved dog-lover