German Shepherd dog

I have been reading the posts concerning heartworm medications and need some information about dosing. I went to the tractor supply and purchased ivermectin paste, 1.87%.  It says each marking on the plunger delivers enough paste for 250 pounds of body weight. There is also a half way mark which would be 125 pounds. I have a female gsd, 2yrs old who weighs 73 pounds and a 5 month old pup that weighs 40 pounds. How would I go about dosing these dogs?

Will this just protect against heartworm? Should they be given this monthly all year round? Will they need yearly bloodtests? Prior to this, I used heartguard, and this is so expensive, so I thought I would try this. Thanks in advance.

The paste is much too difficult to dose for dogs, and hence is dangerous. You need to purchase the liquid 1% solution for cattle. The article below is written for Beagles. The instructions are the same for any breed, except for Collies and Collie mixes. The Ivomec is very safe and a must for those who keep numbers of dogs.

http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/beaglehealth_canineheartworms.htm

Blitz weighs 97 lbs. He gets 2 clicks of the dispensing wheel, an amount about the size of a pencil eraser. A vet worked out the formula.  The liquid is easier to dose. The paste is not approved for dogs and neither is the Ivomec liquid that many give to their dogs. The reality is that there is no incentive for the veterinary drug manufacturers to test it in dogs since they want us to buy the higher priced products. Blitz has taken the paste for almost 4years. So far he has tested negative for microfilaria and has not ever seen a vet for being sick.

Thanks for everyone's help, but now I am totally confused. Some say never to give the paste, others say they give the paste. I can buy the liquid, but the only lquid I saw was the one for cattle. Is that the one to use? Can someone give me a link to what they purchase and the dosage. They have pour on and injectable. I would rather give orally, but which one?

It is really ludicrus that the heartworm medication for dogs is so costly,  when this is the same stuff at a lower price.

I also used biospot for fleas and have never had a problem. It says it protects against mosquitoes, so I sometime wonder if this will protect them. I worry about giving them too many things, but I do not want them to get any parasites.

Any more feedback would be great! Thanks!

OMG!  If what I wrote wasn't clear - IVOMEC IS GIVEN ORALLY, NOT AS AN INJECTION!

I'm sorry if that wasn't perfectly clear.

Steve

I've always heard that Ivomec doesn't work for whip worms and that's why I use Ivomec and Safeguard (Panacur).

Just a note of caution... there is a genetic defect found in some breeds that gives a sometimes fatal sensitivity to several drugs including ivermectin.  Inherited as a recessive, the gene is known as MDR1 and there is a DNA test available.

It is though to have originated in an ancestor of the show Rough Collie breed here in the UK in the 19th century.  Has been found in breeds that have descended from the RC but also a case, or some cases, have been found in Europe in white GSD bloodlines.

Does anyone know the dosage for cats of the Ivermectin? 

Ive use Ivermec liquid for 18 years no postiives and never miss and never had a problem..given orally as above . no mix with anything else,,,squirt in back of mouth  give a piece of raw hamburger or a weinie and all done.       Use the paste as Blitzen said....only an eraser of a pencil size and you will be fine...or exchange it for the bottle of Liquid...

Just make sure you get PLAIN     IVermec  (brown bottle )    not   Ivermec Plus    no Plus....someone  I know made the mistake and got the Plus   the second ingredient in Plus will harm a dog....

 Shepherd Woman you are right.   this is what I suggested,  GO TO YOUR VET,  Heartworm disease is to serious a disease to play around with. My vet has dispensed ivermectin for years so vet's do prescribe. the vet is the only person I would trust to give out  this medication and a proper dosage.  As you can see, some people give it for years and never have a problem and the other side of the coin is my friend, a vet tech who used it and her dog did get heartworms.  For me personally, I stick with the Heartguard and Interceptor, as I have never had a dog contract heartworms while on it.  They've been on it since the 1970'.

The dosage of the ivermectin horse paste I use was formulated by a vet and it's what he gives his own dogs. Not everyone using paste and liquid is irresponsible.  Ivermectin is the drug of choice for heartworm preventative in dogs; nothing is 100%. I personally know many breeders who use the liquid and have been using it for many years and some live in areas where h-worm is very prevelant. They care very much about their dogs' health, they just don't care to pay the outrageous prices for the formulas that are already compounded for dogs. They choose to mix it themselves cutting the liquid or using it full strength in a lesser quantity.  Most vets in a small animal practice don't want you to know that you can use ivermectin liquid or paste, they want to sell you the high priced brand name, so they are going to discourage  you from doing it. 

The only difference between ivermectin paste or liquid and a brand name h-worm preventative with the active ingredient of ivermectin is the carrier agent/s.  If you don't feel comfortable dispensing your own, by all means do not do it, buy the already-compounded formula from your vet  then. However, the stuff you buy without a script at the feedstore does work just as well in the correct dosage.

My vet is the one that gave me and everyone else here the data we use.....sorry to inform you,,but everything Ive ever typed here comes from one of three vets in my life....They are all not money hungry and they practice the same practice...My one vet is like Blitzen says...above and brings to light....do you know what is in that little cube of meat flavoured heartworm pill you put in your dogs mouth..???

Commercialisn is so much only for  money and the contents on dog food, supplies, treats and meds by chemical companies do not tell the truth.     The word natural is the most contrued word in the English language...Everything from oil, petroleum, bath tubs and the steering wheel on your car are all natural ingredients...but do you eat it......no..

If God didnt make it dont eat it or put it in your body.

No ivemec God didnt make    ,,,,But one chemical used all over the USA BY VETS., is used carefully....There are harmful side effects from IVemec just like all chemical preventatives,,,but I know when and what animal to give it to...and baby pups are not to be dipped or given any chemical unless their life is at stake ...Then a vet will be the one doing it.

Ramgsd is correct...Tales are told by vets, oh such and such gave it and his dogs all got hworms...Yeah, and if the truth be known  ,....how many months did the person forget to give it....or maybe it sat in the sun at their house for a day or so and guess what,,,it is not good anylonger... It is hard to speak for others , I just know what  I do...and Yes I skip a month every now and then...It is ok for me to skip because it is in that dogs system and not going to harm or be neglect.  I feel that a  skip is what I want to do...not to overdose or put as little chemical in  my dogs as possible.

Vets try to tell you if you use their meds, the chemical co. will pay for your dogs treatment if they get heartworms while on their meds...I have not heard of any one having such luck...If there are those , out there..I would love to hear on our board those who a company paid for the heartworm treatment that your dog received after you proved you gave it to them and no fault of you or your vet or dog.....Hope someone can give us a report on that...

I've used the 1% Ivomec, labeled for cattle, for about 10 years now. Have never had a problem. What I did do was consult my vet about dosage. He resisted but realized that I was going to use it regardless and he wasn't going to win the argument. (I have, on average, 15 GSDs) He sat down and figured out the correct dosages for pups and adults and that is what I've been using. I don't deviate from that dosage. I strongly recommend you have a 'sit-down' with your vet and have them work out a dosage chart for you. There are just too many variables to consider, as you have seen here.

Spence