mylifewithkiggy (get away from me parasites!!) - Page 1

OCT 29th

My husband and I administered Ivermectin via s/c (subcutaneous) to our baby (Kiggy). The last time she had that was when she was just a pup. And we didn't have any problems when it comes to threats of having different kinds of parasites. Now it's time to have another one.

So before she had her shot, we let her wear her nyl. fabric muzzle, (quick release buckle). We actually have two muzzles for her. Leather muzzle which is I think too heavy for her and the fabric muzzle..very comfortable to use.
I held her head firmly anticipating for resistance.. but she didn't move even a little. "Do it fast!!!" I was so angry with my husband because he was moving so slow.. I felt like he's prolonging the agony of my sweet baby..(after 10 sec. it's over.) whew!!! I looked at her (admiring her braveness) when she suddenly cried. "oh, my gosh what's happening? where you hurt?".. she tried to scratch it..(that's when I realized she felt pain) I almost cried that time coz she seemed very weird..I massaged her back but she got angry.."it's ok honey," then she cried, i can't really explain how I felt that time.. after a few minutes, she's back to her old self again...playful.. from time to time, I always make sure to massage her back.. 1 down 2 more to go.. next week she'll have her booster.. another week, she's have her rabies vaccine.. but if you would ask me.. I don't want any of those shots!! but do we have any choice? We'll anyway, I'm still happy that it's over.
Gosh I really hate medicine..But I want her to get all the medicine she needs to keep her from getting sick or whatsoever...Now it's time for her to rest.. :) cheers!

I don't understand does she have parasites or are you using this to prevent heartworm? Do you administer it once a month to prevent heartworm?  I would be leary about using this on my own with the doses and side effects some fatal and certain dogs do not do well on it.

You do know that ivermectin can be given to dogs orally too right?  Oral dosing of ivermectin is a much more common practice with canines than injection.  

How old is your dog?

I'm concerned about your description of what you do when you medicate your dog.  Was there a reason for muzzling her?  or was that just a precaution to her unknown reaction?   It looks to me like you were preparing for world war 3.  I don't know the history of your dog,  is she really that aggressive and low-pain-tolerance?  
You said you were angry at your husband for being slow, it sounds like you expressed your anger at your husband while in the midst of giving your dog the injection?  

If your dog doesn't already have a history of extreme resistance/fear/aggression,  I'm afraid that you're going to cause her to be that way.  Muzzling, excessive restraining, exhibiting anger, rushing the procedure, the emotionalism and over-focusing on the procedure....all of that adds up to telling your dog, with your body language, that something extremely scary and awful is happening to her and she may be badly hurt or killed.  
It's this kind of thing that gives children and pets neurosis, anxiety disorders. 

Her reaction to the injection, as you described it, was most likely caused by a temporary itchy, burning sensation from the liquid ivermectin.  In my experience, pets who have a reaction like that to a shot typically have low pain tolerance...which can be caused by inadvertently encouraging and reinforcing such behavior.  

I've givin shots to countless animals, very few of them did I ever need a second person to help hold the animal, in such cases, the animal had extreme negative behavior and was a danger to either me or themselves.   Otherwise, simply having calm body language is all that is needed to give a shot.  If an animal shows nervousness or any sign of feeling pain...well, I just ignore it and go on like nothing important is happening.  Vast majority of the time, the animal learns that it wasn't a big deal at all and they become completely relaxed.  The same goes for nail clipping, grooming, etc.  I have owned or been primary caretaker for many, many animals...some animals took more time than others, but they all learned how to be calm and and relaxed during all kinds of procedures...from clipping nails and wings of budgies to clipping bridle paths and drawing blood of once wild horses....while having the complete trust of, and not needing to, restrain the animal.  

So, be calm...be cool, don't let your dog feel anxiety or anger from you.  

I only ever use those tubes for heartworm and fleas. You put in on the back of the neck.  I don't understand what you are talking about.

ok.. she's really aggressive.. not towards us but to other people... but we put muzzle just in case she'd reacts.... I think I'm the one who over reacts.  anyway we injected ivermectin because I saw this tini tiny tick on her neck.. so we thought we'll have her injected with ivermectin..the last time she had her shot was when she was just  a pup.. not too young.. 6-8 months (i think) she's now 2 years and 1 month old. I know I'm a bit nervous about it.. and I learned that you're actually passing your personality to your dog. I think, the reason she cried was that we tried to inject a vitamin via intra muscular few months before.. we didn't try that again.. coz' i think it was pretty painful to her. anyway, she had her booster shot last week.. it was good... she didn't react or anything. and I can say that I was also pretty relaxed that time..