Heartworm Prevention - Page 2

Ivermectin for prevention. I've used it for 20 years. It's also used as a slow kill method for treatment.

I use Ivermectin for intestinal worms as well, so I don't mix it. I live in a swamp and have to use it year round.

Ivomec is a systemic parasite control,...meaning it goes thru the dogs entire body. (That is also why it is used for horses, as it kills the migrating bots under in the mouth and nasal cavities.) And... why it kills mites (mange and ear), heartworm microfilaria, and intestinal parasites.  The dose for heartworm preventative is very safe, as it is about 1/3 the dosage given for sarcoptic mange.  Thus....part of the reason many vets went to other preventatives.......dogs who were on Heartguard did not get mange or ear mites.  OH, MY!!!  The vets were losing income!!  God forbid!! (dosages are in the Merck Manual, also)

I will look up an old article in Veterinary Journal which gives the protocol for heartworm treatment....stating...if a dog tests positive for HW, yet has no symptoms(coughing, lethargic, etc.)...leave it on preventative dose.  Adult HW has a high mortality rate and short lifespan.  For the adult HW to reproduce within the dog, there must be male and female adult HW.  I will dig out the information, if anyone is interested in it.

When I went to college in Kansas, we went to Indian reservations in OK, to treat all their animals.  Ivomec 1% was the broad spectrum wormer we used, for it covered so many problems.

When caparsolate was used for HW treatment(which is arsenic based), the secondary treatment stage was Ivomec 1% given orally.  There are certain breeds who may show sensitivity...greyhounds, collies...they say.  I take that as rough collies, as I have used it for years on border collies with no problems.

Debbie

I don't dilute mine I use the 1% I use .1 cc per 10 lbs so a 80lb dog gets .8  You can use an insulin syringe to make sure you are getting a very accurate dose, give it orally.  Since it does worm for everything I use it yr round, I too give it between every 45 - 50 days. Never had a problem.

I Have never diluted it either...Pull it in a syring , pop off needle  , get a meat treat, open mouth squirt to back of throat thru side and immediately give a meat treat.

Never mix, and I keep mine  in the fridge.

I do not give my AMERICAN COCKER SPANIELS...AS i DO JUST HEARTGUARD EVERY OTHER MONTH..

yr

   This is the first year I have decided to go all natural....

   I have always used a heartworm preventative in the past, but I am skeptical about the adverse effects that can be caused by preventive medicines....I am concerned that the preventives can be dangerous to my dogs health...I also know that there may be a risk if I do not use preventives....It has been a hard decision, but I am content with my decision to stop the preventatives..

  I use a safe topical mosquito repellent and try to avoid putting my dog out when mosquitos are most active...I am focusing on building a strong immune system with good nutrition and being more conservative about my vaccination regimen...Just my opinion...

 Deanna...: )

Deanna,
I would like to know what you are using topically on your dog. 
Char

 
 Char...
   Premier Marigold and I also use Geranium essential oils mixed with water....

 I agree with Ruger 1, the more we can do natural the better.

That is why i only use the Ivemec every 50 \60 days...

ANd I use DE. for fleas now with garlic and other natural holistic remedies.

YR

I order 100 chewables for about $200.

http://www.pets-megastore.com.au/heartgoldezyboneslarge100s-p-915.html 

I treat Senta with Sentinel (milbemycin oxime/lufenuron) for HW/fleas. I fully understand that there are risks associated with gving any medication but given my geographic location (http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/heartworm/2010/), that my backyard is heavily infested with mosquitoes, and that she swims weekly, I feel comfortable with my decision to  use a preventative. I will still test for HW since she could have secretly vomited the pill and the possiblilty exists for a HW strain (eg. MP3 strain) that is resistant to the standard preventative treatments (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21295409).

Laura