|
How We Treat Heartworms for the Dogs in Our Rescue
This is how we treat heartworms here in our rescue. This is not the final say of how to do it but it is the way that we do it with our dogs. Each owner should consult with their own vet about their particular dog. It is the owner’s individual responsibility if they do something other than what a vet says.
We use a drug called Ivomec or also called Ivomectin. We get this from the local feed and seed store or Tractor Supply or online. This is what we have been doing for years with total success. Ivomec is the drug that kills heartworms. Think of heartworms this way. The heart is full of spaghetti (heartworms) and if you kill them all at once they will clog up the arteries leading out so you must kill the heartworms little by little over the period of a year instead of the arsenic the vet uses to kill them in three days. Some vets will tell you to not do this but they are in business for a reason. Some vets will tell you that yes it will work and to add another product to help it “stick to the bones”. If you will look at a product called Heartguard that prevents heartworms you will see the two main drugs are Ivomec and Pyrantel. Ivomec for heartworms and Pyrantel for other worms besides tapes. Plumbs Vet Handbook says the dose for Ivomec is (dog's weight in pounds divided by 2.2 equals the weight in Kg. Kg times (multiplied by) .006 (point zero zero six) is the normal dose) BUT for a heartworm positive dog the dose is cut in half for 12 months. The Ivomec is given (orally in the mouth). We buy the 50ML bottle labeled for cattle and swine. Draw it out with a needle and syringe then remove the needle and squirt the proper dosage in the dog’s mouth. Very easy and cost ranges from $30-$40 depending where we buy the Ivomec. Ivomec CANNOT be used in Collie breeds though. We use the Ivomec to prevent heartworms from coming back by using the regular dosage monthly. A 50 ML bottle last us two years even with the 40 dogs that we have. We usually throw away some after it expires. |
|
House 4 Sale |
|
Diamond B Funny Farm Photos our farm |