Side Effects

The following are possible side effects, as admitted by Fort Dodge in their letter to verterinarians. The rate of these side effects is quite high compared to other heartworm preventatives on the market, and therefore I fear that people may be sacrificing safety for the sake of convenience.

Here are just a few of the potential side effects:

• Swelling and pain at the site of the injection.
• Facial swelling
• Diahhrea and vomitting
• Lethargy and fever
• Wobbliness and weakness
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Erythema multiforme (bodywide disease with a characteristic rash involving the skin and mucous membranes)
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells)
• Seizures and other neurological events
• Death