CountryByNet.com Forums :: Who else uses ivemec to prevent heartworms?

I don't use it, yet... but here is some info that may steer you in the right direction. I know lots of dog folk who use it on their own pets....

Directly from handbook of veterinary drugs, second
edition. This book is a widely used veterinary formulary.
"Ivermectin (Heartgard, Ivomec, Eqvalan)
Indications: Ivermectin is used for the eradication of demodectic,
sarcoptic, Otodectic, and Cheyletiella mites in dogs. It has also been
used in the treatment of Capillaria aerophila and is marketed for the
prevention of canine heartworm[Heartgard]. The drug has been used as a
microfilaricide in heartworm disease. In fact, ivermectin has been shown
to be effective against heartworm infection when 1 year of monthly
prophylactic dosing is started as late as 4 months after infection. In
cats, the drug has been used inn the treatment of ear mites Cheyletiella
blakei, Physaloptera preputailis, Demodex, and fleas."
These organisms listed are mange mites, ear mites, lung worms,
heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms. I think that pretty much
takes care of everything except tape worms. The method needed to kill
tapeworms is different than the way ivermectin works.
Now for the adverse effects from the Handbook of Small Animal Practice,
third edition.
"Adverse Drug Reactions:
Ivermectin: Anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, ataxia, seizures."
Now that is widely excepted published material used by veterinarians all
over the country.
I have also heard of severe liver disease in dogs given large over doses
over long periods of time. You must also be very careful about giving
this drug to sighthounds and collies, in these breeds ivermectin can
cause severe reactions.
You use the injectable cattle or
swine form of ivermectin orally in the dog. Make sure you have calculated
the correct dose. If you give the same amount that is incorporated in
Heartgard, you would give 0.27 ml for a 50-100lb dog.
that amount can be given mixed with anything to taste better, or
straight, or it can be given subcutaneously.
I personally use Pro Heart 6 injectable for my hounds.
About the old standard of 1/10cc for 10 lbs of body weight.
The proven dose for 50-100lb dog is 0.272cc This is the amount of ivermectin in Heartgard. So if you have a 50-80lb dog, you will give 1/4cc (0.25ml) of 1 % Ivomec for cattle or 1cc of .27% Ivomec for pigs.. monthly. giving 0.1cc per 10 lbs of body weight is too much. It may not do anything bad, but why use more than you need?

Actually you should give less than you have said here. My vet and I went over it and figured it out according to the product labels.
If you look at Heartgard, it has 272 mcg (micrograms) of ivermectin for the 50 to 100 lb dogs. A microgram is 1/1000 of a mg (milligram). If you look at the product label for IVOMEC 1% swine injection, it states that 1 mL will deliver 10 mg (or milligrams) of ivermectin.
So - 1 mL (which is equal to 1 cc) contains 10,000 mcg (or micrograms) of ivermectin. A dog only needs 3 micrograms per pound of body weight per month to keep them heartworm free.
So - if 1 cc = 10000 mcg, we can bring that number down by mixing it with propylene glycol - which actually works as a carrier agent for the ivermectin. 9 parts propylene glycol to 1 part IVOMEC. That will deliver 1000 mcg of ivermectin per 1 cc. So then, you only give .1 cc of the mixed down IVOMEC per 30 lbs of body weight. You give it orally.
If you use it for intestinal worms, it is a much higher dose - I am not sure of the proper dose. We prefer to use pyrantel pamoate or fenbendazole for intestinal worms.
The main breeds you have to worry about with it is Collies. They have a sensitivity to ivermectin and it can kill them at the higher dosages

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