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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 are not vets.
We use a drug called Ivomec or also called Ivomectin. This is labeled as injectable for cattle and swine. NOT THE POUR ON TYPE. We get this from the local feed and seed store or Tractor Supply or online. (It may be called Ivomec or a generic is Noromectin or Endo-Mectin) The correct stuff is 1% Ivermectin INJECTABLE for cattle and swine. 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) Example: 50 lb dog...50lb divided by2.2=22.7272 Kg. 22.7272Kg times .006= 0.136 CCs (that is zero point one three six CCs). BUT for a heartworm positive dog the dose is cut in half for 12 months. This means take the 0.136 CCs divided by 2= 0.068 CCs Therefore 0.068 CCs (Point zero six eight CCs) are given once a month 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. We have also found it easier to get the small 1CC syringe from the pharmacy that is for diabetics. It can more easily measure this small amount. Ivomec CANNOT be used in Collie breeds. We use the Ivomec to prevent heartworms from coming back by using the regular dosage monthly after we have given half a dose for the first year. A 50 ML bottle last us two years even with the 40 dogs that we have. We usually throw away some after it expires.
Beware: the pour on type will kill dogs Many people will tell you that you can use the pour on type to kill fleas and ticks they are correct but, it also kills the dog by damaging the dog’s liver. (The dog absorbs the pour on type through its skin). I have had dogs come to me from other rescues that this happened to so I’m speaking from experience. The injectable type will also damage the liver if given in large doses or an overdose this is why it is important to do the math correctly. Usually the injectable comes in a 50ML bottle and larger sizes are the pour on types. |
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Peace of Eden Farm our organic farm |
