Passing this along

August 20, 2009
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service

Virbac Animal Health has recalled Iverhart Plus flavored chewable tablets
for dogs after routine stability tests showed that samples from two lots
did not contain sufficient amounts of ivermectin to give dogs weighing 85
pounds or more six months of parasite protection.

The company, which sent out a letter to distributors last Friday, reports
that lots 090093 and 090095 of the heartworm preventative, sold between
March 20 and April 5, are affected.

A third lot, 090073, initially was named in the recall, but subsequent
tests revealed the related product was not subpotent.

While Virbac did not share the company's letter with the VIN News Service,
sales representative Tara Youngblood explains that veterinarians are being
asked to contact their distributors to see if they've purchased product
from the recalled lots.

"It's not going to harm the dog. There wasn't enough (ivermectin) to keep
the dog (heartworm) free for the whole six months," she explains.

The VIN News Service (VNS) contacted Midwest Veterinary Supply and Webster
Veterinary Supply to get more information from the recall letter, and
representatives at both companies refused to relay any details about it.

But Vedco Inc., a generics distributor that feeds more than a half-dozen
smaller veterinary supply companies, shared Virbac's recall letter with VNS.
The document marked "urgent" asks that distributors track down what
veterinary practices might be carrying recalled product and return the
inventory
to Vedco.

Replacement product or credit will be issued after the return of a
completed and signed recall response form and the receipt of the returned
product,
Virbac's letter to distributors states.

Butler Animal Health officials say they did not receive a recall letter
from Virbac. "It's very possible that we didn't purchase from the lot
numbers involved," a representative contends.

Virbac's Youngblood explains that the company is sending inquiries to
veterinary practices, via their distributors, asking that doctors name the
owners of all dogs that were administered Iverhart Plus from the recalled
lots.

The company is picking up the tab for additional heartworm tests for dogs
weighing 75 pounds or more. Those tests should be conducted within six
months of a dog's last Iverhart Plus dose, Youngblood says.

It was not immediately known whether Virbac plans to pay for any
adulticide treatments of dogs who were given subpotent doses if they test
positive
for heartworms.