Alternative Heartworm preventative (border collie, vet, black, skin)

[Keeper]

I had someone tell me they used something for cows that is injected once a year. She didn't remember the name but said she uses it for her dogs.

I have never heard of such a thing, plus I live in a rural area so there are a lot of wives tales out there.

Just wondering if anyone else has heard of this type of thing

[zugor]

Probably talking about Ivomec but I would not consider using on dogs. Go with a product specifically formulated for canines. I know it's expensive, (I've had as many as 6 big dogs) but you just gotta find some other area of your overall budget to scrimp. You can save a bundle if you buy and administer your own vaccines (other than rabies) and bordetella.

[Viralmd]

It's probably ivermectin, which is already used in dogs. It has to be used monthly, however, because the immature worms have to be killed before they become large adults, and able to reproduce. And ivermectin is EXTREMELY safe. EXTREMELY.

[FiveHorses]

I've done it (ie, injected dogs and cats with invermectin). It's available worldwide so when we've been in weird and wonderful places where either there were no canine/feline alternatives, or none with which I was familiar or could trust not to be tainted in some way, I've gone that route. It's just a question of mathematically figuring out the dosage.

Aside from intestinal worms/parasites, it's the business for skin parasites.

I have to second ViralMD's safety vote. From everything I've heard/read/been told by vets, it's very, very safe and it's hard to overdose an animal on it. For example, a vet I know who raises blackbuck antelope uses corn soaked in it to worm them. While he do all the math and whatnot, it's impossible to ensure a non-domesticated animal only eats what it's supposed to, so he uses ivermectin as it's very "forgiving".

The only proviso I know about it are border collies. It's usually advised not to use it on them because for reasons no one seems to know, it can pass through some barrier to the brain and cause seizures. I believe this only applies in it's "straight" form, seeing as Heartguard has ivermectin, no?

[grannynancy]

ivomec is ivermectin and if a dog does not have genetic sensitivity to ivermectin there is a very wide dosage range...........I think there is now a genetic test for that gene too.........

But you would still want to be careful about the dosages and there is plenty on the web you can search for that but you are "on your own".

There is also horse paste but you have to be careful as some of the horse ivermectin pastes have *other* worming ingredients that can be dangerous to the dogs.

[MAK802]

Ivermectin is in Revolution. We use that for flea control and get the benefit of heartworm prevention as well.

[grannynancy]

Originally Posted by MAK802

Ivermectin is in Revolution. We use that for flea control and get the benefit of heartworm prevention as well.

Selamectin is a topical in Revolution and it is not actually ivermectin which is either oral or injectable, but is similar to it.

Here is a good link on the various alternatives
Heartworm Prevention

Of course I still remember daily caricide, then filarabits.

[Bluw]

I used ivermectin for years with no ill effects. Worked great. But there are some breeds that cannot tolerate it. As with anything, do your homework before using.For most breeds it is totally safe. I have heard of deaths in collies associated with the use of ivermectin.

[grannynancy]

It is now possible to test to see if the dog has the genetic mutation responsible for ivermectin sensitivity

MDR1 Gene Mutation/Heartguard/Ivermectin WARNING

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by grannynancy

It is now possible to test to see if the dog has the genetic mutation responsible for ivermectin sensitivity

MDR1 Gene Mutation/Heartguard/Ivermectin WARNING

Interesting . Thanks for that.