My vet says they took away the proheart shot?

[Eva]

Help! I called my vet yesterday to schedule Roxy for her 6 month proheart shot to prevent heartworms, but they said they took the shot off the market a few months ago?! This really stresses me out, because Roxy was on the chewable heartguard prior to the shot, and she still ended up getting heartworms!!! This was a few years ago, and thank God we caught it early and treatment was sucessful. At the time, my vet and I concluded Roxy must have thrown up the chewable, and I just didn't realize it at the time. (When she was a pup her tummy was very sensitive.)

I have heard about topicals out there, but my vet would rather Roxy be on heartguard??? She still gets a sensitive tummy now and then, and since heartworm preventative is small doses of what they actually use to treat a positive dog, I don't want to stress out about her throwing up a chewable and not catching it! :-(

So I've been trying to do some research on my choices, and I even just looked at the American Heartworm Society, but it doesn't mention the shot being taken off the market....I'm confused! And being in Texas, I need my baby on year-round med. HELP!

Eva

 

[Vela]

The shot was taken off the market as it was found to be too dangerous. Many dogs were having problems with it and I don't remember exactly about it because this was a while ago but I thought I remembered something about it being especially bad for "bully/boxer" type breeds. I can't remember exactly if this last part is correct but I do know they took it off the market because it was dangerous.

I personally use Interceptor and they always have negative HW. Good luck.

 

[jaimie]

Here is the letter that was sent out to vets regarding Proheart 6

September 13, 2004

Dear Doctor:

FDA has requested that Fort Dodge Animal Health, Inc., recall ProHeart® 6 (moxidectin) Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs to the veterinarian. Since the product was approved in June 2001, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has received over 5,000 reports of adverse reactions suspected of being associated with ProHeart® 6. Many of the reports received have involved serious, life-threatening adverse events, such as anaphylaxis, convulsions, hematopoetic disorders, and hepatopathies, followed in some cases by death. FDA has also evaluated a number of adverse drug reports associated with ProHeart® 6 that include neurologic problems and unusual cardiac signs.

Due to the seriousness of these reports, we advise you to discontinue administration of ProHeart® 6 until further notice. Pet owners should be advised on appropriate alternative heartworm preventatives for their dogs.

At FDA's request, the product sponsor has also made three label revisions, added a Client Information Sheet, and issued two “Dear Doctor” letters since approval to advise veterinarians and pet owners of the risks associated with use of the product. Despite these label changes and educational efforts, FDA is still receiving an alarming number of unexplained adverse event reports. FDA's concern is based on voluntary self-reporting to FDA by veterinarians and owners whose dogs have suffered adverse drug experiences (ADEs) to ProHeart® 6 as well as the mandatory reporting of adverse events by Fort Dodge Animal Health. The actual incidence of adverse events is likely to be even higher than reported, because studies show that only a fraction of actual adverse reactions are reported. FDA is requesting that Fort Dodge Animal Health conduct research to determine the cause of the adverse reactions and develop a strategy to help prevent such problems before the product is marketed again.

We consistently encourage veterinarians to report adverse events through the product sponsor. Sponsors are then obligated to submit their reports to CVM.

We will continue to serve veterinarians and their clients by providing updated, accurate, and unbiased information with respect to the safe and effective use of veterinary pharmaceuticals.


Sincerely,

Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Director
FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine


I personally like HeartGuard for my dogs.

 

[BeckyNC]

Tae does well on Interceptor. In fact, she had her yearly blood test last week for hearworms and all was good. Perhaps Hearguard just didn't agree with Roxy's tummy? Maybe you could try another brand?

 

[Eva]

Thanks for the replies guys...Perhaps I will try Interceptor. Does anyone use the topicals?

Thanks again!

Eva

 

[myrocky]

Eva, heartworm meds *do not* prevent a dog from getting heartworms. The pill is a monthly wormer. It gets in the system and kills already existing larva, if any are present. Heartworms take a full 6mos. to develope in the dog, so either she was vomiting up all of the pills or she had an existing batch of heartworm that had developed past the larva stage. I know that the package says it's a "Heartworm Prevenitive" but it's really a wormer. If you do a search here you can pull up lots of information about heartworms and also check out The American Heartworm Society. That should provide you with lots of information as well.

I do not use topicals because I do not like putting chemicals on my dog. I use interceptor only in the summer and I give it every 6weeks instead of every 4 (I also followed this schedule when I lived in the south).