Annual Heartworm Injections Adverse Reactions

evelin · November 10, 2006

Mine are on the annual Revolution injection.
My vet says he has not heard of any adverse reactions and he says vets all talk about suchlike so he'd know, given how long it has been in use.

Terribly sorry about Tobie.

DEAR GINGER'S MUM,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS REGARDING TOBIE. MY VETS HAVE READ ALL THE RESEARCH ON THESE INJECTIONS AND AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO TOBIE WILL NOT OFFER IT TO OWNERS. IF SOMEONE WANTS IT REGARDLESS OF BEING CAUTIONED ABOUT IT, MY VETS WILL NOT GIVE IT CONCURRENTLY WITH OTHER VACCINES. THEY ARE SUGGESTING TO OWNERS THAT THEY USE THE MONTHLY TABLETS. THIS HAS ALL BEEN VERY TRAUMATIC FOR EVERYONE BUT THE POINT IS THAT MOST VETS ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THIS DRUG HAD IN THE U.S. OR THAT IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE MARKET THERE. THE MAJORITY OF VETS JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME FOR THE INTENSE RESEARCH NEEDED TO LOOK INTO NEW PRODUCTS. THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE INJECTION IS NOT INTERNET HYPE, IT CAN BE READ ON OFFICIAL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION. ANYONE CAN CHECK OUT THE FDA WEBSITE IN THE U.S. TO GET INFORMATION ON THE HEARTWORM INJECTION.

http://www.fda.com then click on "Search the FDA...Recalls, Alerts & Warnings" then type in Proheart injection recall.

THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE AND IT IS OFFICIAL AND AVAILABLE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

ALSO A GOOD LINK FOR INFORMATION ON THE SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING INTO THE SITUATION IS:

http://www.whistleblower.org/template/page.cfm?page_id=141

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT PET OWNERS REPORT ANY SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS FROM ANY VET PRODUCT TO THE APVMA, OUR OWN AUSTRALIAN VET MEDICINE AUTHORITY. IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

OUR PETS TRUST US.....WE TRUST OUR VETS....THE VETS TRUST THE DRUG COMPANIES. IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WHO GETS THE SHORT END OF THE STICK?....OUR PETS, AND ULTIMATELY WE DO TOO. THE APVMA IS THERE TO HELP US.

I WOULD JUST LIKE PEOPLE TO BE AWARE AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS FOR THEIR BELOVED PETS.

EVELIN

Poppy's mum · November 10, 2006

Hey Evelin, I have no issue with anything you have had to say and my heart really does bleed for you - such an unnecessary waste! I will ask if the revolution annual is the same as the proheart etc with the same active ingredients. I had queried it before as a result of threads on this forum. I'm pretty nervous now about giving it to the greyhound but she does go to another specialist geyhound vet and isn't due till March - I will probably keep her on the monthlies...though.

Wendy

~Anne~ · November 10, 2006

evelin.... you do realise that the product that was removed from the shelves in the US is not the same product available in Australia don't you?

(Psst....... to type in uppercase is considered 'shouting' on the internet and is not kosher or polite)

dogbesotted · November 10, 2006

the active ingredient is exactly the same...moxidectin

this is from the fda report:

"In June 2001, Proheart 6 (moxidectin) was approved and launched in the US by FDAH to prevent canine heartworm disease for 6 months, and to treat existing larval and adult stages of the canine hookworm. Since then, the product has also been registered in Italy, Canada, Japan, France, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Korea. A similar product, ProHeart SR12, which contains approximately 3 times the amount of moxidectin as ProHeart 6, is registered and marketed in Australia since October 2000"

2004 report from AVPMA:

http://www.apvma.gov.au/qa/proheart.shtml

needless to say the numbers of adverse reports are dependent upons people knowing that one there is an organisation collating and investigating such incidents and two: people insisting that any adverse reaction be reported.

My view is that should my dog be one of the minority who has a severe reaction ( or any reaction for that matter) how does one combat the side effects of a product that is designed to remain working in the body for 12 months??????

Years ago my heart dog Morris developed Immune mediated Thrombocytopenia a couple of days after receiving his annual vaccination ..... when I asked about any possible link i was told emphatically no. BUT now it is acknoweledged that autoimmune disease can be a reaction to vaccination.

MolassesLass · November 10, 2006

Given that 30% of collie-type dogs suffer moderate to severe reactions to any of the -mectin family of drugs, the 6/12 month heartworm injections really aren't a good idea for these breeds due the amount needed to last that long. That said, I've known many who have and do use it (and other -mectin containing products) with no reaction.

~Anne~ · November 10, 2006

My view is that should my dog be one of the minority who has a severe reaction ( or any reaction for that matter) how does one combat the side effects of a product that is designed to remain working in the body for 12 months??????

In my opinion, this is the critical decision to be made.

This is exactly why I have decided to revert to monthly prevention because I do not like the thought that the drug is effective in my dogs system for such a long period of time should future studies prove conclusively that the drug has more side effects and or adverse reactions then previously expected. Again I reiterate though thatthere is no conclusive evidence to say it is any more harmful or has a higher number of reactions then many other drugs on the market that we routinely give our pets.

Skipy · November 10, 2006

BUT now it is acknoweledged that autoimmune disease can be a reaction to vaccination.

These yearly treatments are not the same as vaccinations. Autoimmune diseases can also be triggered by infections not only vaccines, and its always in the individuals that are already succeptable to development of autoimmunity, ie. you have to be succeptible first, its not like its vaccine fault.

InspectorRex · November 10, 2006

Ginger's Mum- yes Revoultion has "sister" ingredients to the Proheart Injections- hounds have now been discovered to be Ivermectin sensitive as well as other breeds such as Akita's and GSD's so unless you have a DNA test to find out whether or not your dog is Ivermectin sensitive I would NOT use either of the above injections on your dog.

Steve · November 10, 2006

Puggles, I was simply attempting to explain why I used the terminology I did as per your request. I dont want an argument . I think there is much more to this than we know and I wont use it for my dogs and I think before the vet offers me the stuff for my dog they should not only be aware of the issues but also inform me of them.

Perhaps I am mistaken and the vets wouldnt loose any money out of not giving the vaccinations and they actually give it all for no profit .Perhaps now that the new vaccination protocols are on the agenda it gives em a reason to get people back once a year again - who knows . But its my guess they are making a fair cut out of each one they give as well as the need for an appointment in the first place and therefore if they stand up and refuse to give it they would loose money.

By the way if you think there are no consequences for vets who stand up against the big companies and that vets who went public about what they thought about commercial dog food werent given a hard time try reading Raw Meaty Bones Written by Tom Lonsdale .

My advice to everyone is - Do the research , evaluate the risks of either not having it or having it and make an educated decision based on facts and not just stuff put out by the drug companies [ and at the risk of slagging off gingers Mum's vet]

dont just take the vets word for whether you should or should not have the thing because once its in you can't get it out.

Knowing after the event that the dog was suseptible skipy isnt much comfort to the owners who have to watch the results.

Skipy · November 10, 2006

Knowing after the event that the dog was suseptible skipy isnt much comfort to the owners who have to watch the results.

My comment is only directed to comment on vaccinations (which should be handleded by any dog that has normal immune system) not heartworm prevention chemicals. With that I do agree that less there is of it in the system, better it is for the dog, which is why I use monthly treatment.

Working_Setters · November 10, 2006

I like my vet as a person, respect him as a professional and absolutely agree with his right to make a profit by running his business. That said, it is a fact that owners can readily source oral worming treatments from supermarkets and over the internet, whilst vaccinations generally mean a trip to the vet. How much profit vets get from these vaccinisations and how this influences their decision to recommend one product over the other I'm unable to say.

Hathor · November 10, 2006

When SR12 first came out, we had a clients dog that nearly died. Came back to the clinic within hours of the injection, very ill. I don't condem people if they use it. Like any other drug, there will be those individuals that will react to it. However, for my dogs, I'm happy sticking to the monthly tablets.

morgan · November 10, 2006

Again I reiterate though thatthere is no conclusive evidence to say it is any more harmful or has a higher number of reactions then many other drugs on the market that we routinely give our pets.

You are quite right Puggles - many dogs also die from Rimadyl and other routinely prescribed drugs. Probably more dogs die from this than the Proheart injections.

This is why I don't use prescription or over the counter drugs on my dogs. It is also why I am now only going to be using parvo vaccine on my pups and not polyvalent vaccines like C3.

morgan · November 10, 2006

Just remembered, there was a stall at the Expo today to promote heartworm injections to the public. :hug:

When I queried the chap there about the health warning issued by the Canadian Proheart manufacturer he quickly changed the subject, and stated that any deaths from the injection would be fewer than deaths from heartworm. Neatly sidestepped the fact that there were more alternatives to injections than death from heartworm! :D

Wouldn't have been so annoyed if there had been a visible document on the established risks so that people could make up their own minds. It is impossible for people to give informed consent to something if they are not given all the information.

fido666 · November 10, 2006

I just want to point out it's not just -mectin based drugs which some dogs are sensitive too, Milbemycin Oxime is also on the list. Milbemax contains this drug and is a common worming treatment. I sent my OH off to the vet to get some worming tablets and that's what he came home with :D . The vet knows I have Collies so I'm a bit peeved, in all fairness though perhaps the vet nurse/receptionist who sold him the tablets didn't know. Needless to say they will be returned unopened.

With Collies and related breeds only an MDR1 sensitivity test performed by DNA swab can confirm the dog's status. I have had both mine tested and I have 1 "Carrier" and 1 "Clear". I will not risk my Carrier dog on the suspect drugs even though Carriers are not classed as Affected. It just means I have to find a drug safe for both so there is no danger of dosing the Carrier with the wrong drug. As a puppy and before I knew his status he did receive some of the monthly Heartworm tabs, both Heartguard and ProHeart, without apparent ill effects. That's a lot different to a 6mth or 12mth injection though as the dose rate would be much higher.

Just yesterday I got a letter in the post from the Vet practise we attend promoting the injections. I've had a long discussion with one of the vets there about this but he has since left, guess I'll just have to do the educating all over again :hug: .

Cheers,

Corine

dogbesotted · November 11, 2006

BUT now it is acknoweledged that autoimmune disease can be a reaction to vaccination.

These yearly treatments are not the same as vaccinations. Autoimmune diseases can also be triggered by infections not only vaccines, and its always in the individuals that are already succeptable to development of autoimmunity, ie. you have to be succeptible first, its not like its vaccine fault.

My point was that studies are now showing that immunity from vaccinations lasts much longer than 1 year..whereas in 1999 the gospel was responsible owners vaccinate their dogs annually... I prefer to think that people do their own research and then make their own decisions based on that within reason of course.

I feel that frequently medications and treatments for dogs are designed for the convenience of the owners and I choose to keep it as simple as possible.

What suits me is not something that I would expect others to follow.

Skipy · November 11, 2006

My point was that studies are now showing that immunity from vaccinations lasts much longer than 1 year..whereas in 1999 the gospel was responsible owners vaccinate their dogs annually..

Two things: can you quote any study that looks at this, ie. after immunisation how antibody levels change over the years?

and 2. You know how for flu some people choose to get vaccinated yearly (personally not one of them), does anyone know if dogs yearly boosters incorporate different strains of kennel cough (that might be the equivalent of flu).

:laugh:

(Sorry a bit off topic).

Steve · November 12, 2006

Lots of studies re immunity of vaccinations .Cornell uni did one that went for 15 years .I've got the links for the studies here someplace and Ill dig em out for you later when Ive a bit more time.

I cant help with the kennel cough as Ive never been that interested .Ive never used it.