RetrieverTraining.Net - the RTF banner

ivermectin

6K views 13 replies 10 participants last post by  Bob Glover 
#1 ·
just curious on what doseage of ivermectin anyone is giving as a heartworm preventative. I know one guy who is giving .1 ml per 10 lbs body weight and another who is giving .1 ml for 25lbs body weight. I know it is important to not over medicate however I want to be sure to give enough to be a preventative.

Thanks for any sugestions.

Kevin
 
#3 ·
Kevin I also give .1cc for every 10 pounds with no problems
 
#8 ·
Just a caution: Be sure, if you use liquid ivermectin, that you buy ivermectin, and NOT Ivomec PLUS.

Plain Ivomec, or ivermectin. Just FYI :)
 
#9 ·
Perhaps we should also note that Ivermectin may not be safe for all breeds of dogs.

The breeds considered at high risk for ivermectin toxicity are collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, and Old English sheepdogs
These breeds have a commonly occurring genetic mutation that can make Ivermectin dangerous to use.

I have never seen or heard of a problem with Labs and Ivermectin

Make sure the dog is free of heart worms before you use it for the first time
 
#10 ·
Post from another forum.

"This addresses the issue of correct monthly dosage of
Ivomec (1% ivermectin) solution for PREVENTION of
heartworms in dogs. It is not about the much higher
dosages of ivermectin required to treat canine intestinal
worms or external parasites.


First, some abbreviations used in this post, posts by
others, and on websites containing heartworm and ivermectin
information:
one gram = one thousand milligrams = 1,000 mg
one gram = one million micrograms = 1,000,000 mcg = 1,000,000 ug
one thousand grams = one kilogram = 1 kg = 2.20462 pounds
one liter = one thousand milliters = 1000 mL
one milliter = 1 mL = almost exactly 1 cc (cubic centimeter)


From several websites, including ones that have Freedom
Of Information copies of the original ivermectin clinical
trials, the recommended dosage rate of ivermectin for
PREVENTION of heartworms in dogs is 6mcg/kg.


That's SIX micrograms of ivermectin per kilogram of dog.
The datasheet that came with the bottle of 1% (one percent)
sterile solution of Ivomec bought from a local feed store
indicates that if given to CATTLE at a rate of 1mL/110lb
(one milliliter of solution per one hundred ten pounds of
animal), that the CATTLE would receive a dosage rate of
200mcg/kg.


That's TWO HUNDRED micrograms of ivermectin per kilogram
of cow, bull, calf, etc., or 33.333 times the dosage rate
appropriate for dogs.


Therefore, to calculate the amount of 1% (one percent)
solution to give to my dogs I had to reduce the 1mL/110lb of
cattle down to 0.030mL/110lb (three hundredths of one
milliliter of Ivomec [1% ivermectin] solution per one
hundred ten pounds) of dog.


So "Lady", who weighs about 55 (fifty-five) pounds, needs
0.015mL (one and one-half hundredths of a milliliter) of
1% Ivomec solution each month. I have read that Ivomec is
also available in 0.27% solution, which would be easier to
dose accurately. "Lady" would need the easier-to-measure
0.056mL (5.6 hundredths of a milliliter) of the 0.27% Ivomec
solution.


The same answer to the dosage question can be achieved another
way. The Ivomec (1% ivermectin solution) label states in two
places that each mL of Ivomec contains 10 mg of ivermectin.
10 mg (milligrams) equals 10,000 mcg or ug (micrograms). The
correct dosage is only SIX mcg per kg (kilogram) of dog.
That's six mcg per 2.20462 pounds of dog. So the 55 pound
"Lady" mentioned above would need (6/10,000) X (55/2.20462) mL
or 0.015 mL of the 1% variety of Ivomec each month.


The pharmacy in the local Wal-Mart Supercenter sells tiny
disposable applicators (like syringes without needles) that
hold only one milliliter of solution, with a graduation for
each hundredth of a milliliter (Update: the last batch I
bought of this same brand of applicator has half as many
graduations, one for each two hundredths of a milliliter).
Removing one of these plastic applicators and the 1% Ivomec
solution from my refrigerator (where I keep both stored), I
found during the first test that 23 actual free-fall drops (as
opposed to the unreliable "dps" graduation scale included on
some of the aforementioned applicators) equaled 0.61mL of
solution, and during the second test that 33 free-fall drops
equaled 0.91mL of solution. Using the total of 56 free-fall
drops being equal to 1.52mL, each one of those drops of 1%
Ivomec calculated to be 0.0271428mL . Comparing this amount
to the desired dosage of 0.0300000mL of 1% Ivomec solution
per 110 pounds of dog (see paragraph seven, above), each one
of those particular drops was therefore the correct amount to
give to a dog weighing 99.5 pounds.


Keep in mind that free-fall drops can be different sizes.
Volume contained in each drop of 1% Ivomec is affected by
temperature of the solution, temperature of the applicator,
applicator material (plastic versus glass), how clean or dirty
the applicator is, and the size and shape of that portion of
the applicator which is close to the opening. For that reason
it is a good idea to do your own tests to determine the drops
per mL relationship, and to IGNORE any graduated scale (on
some applicators) which claims to represent "drops" instead of
hundredths or fiftieths of a mL.


It is easier for me to apply a single drop of 1% Ivomec
solution to an absorbent dog treat than to the back of a dog's
tongue. This also keeps the applicator clean enough to store in
a baggie in the refrigerator, instead of throwing it away. I
refrigerate the 50mL bottle of Ivomec also. I put the drug on
breaded chicken patties after they have cooled to room
temperature, to avoid any possible drug breakdown due to heat.


Note that a single drop of 1% Ivomec solution is almost a
2 to 1 overdose for "Lady", and more than a 2 to 1 overdose
for my several 45-pound dogs. In clinical tests even Collies
had to have an overdose of at least 15 to 1 before they showed
any ill effects. However, it would be reasonable to assume that
there are some dogs who are even more sensitive to ivermectin
than any of the relative few who were in the clinical trials.


A Heartgard Chewable for dogs 51 to 100 pounds delivers
272 mcg of ivermectin according to the label. One kilogram
equals 2.20462 pounds. Considering the recommended dosage
rate of 6 mcg per kilogram of dog, this means the Chewable
is formulated for 100 pound dogs, with 51 to 99 pound dogs
receiving a harmless overdose. I keep this in mind when
dealing with the difficulty of precise measurement of
small amounts of ivermectin solution. "
 
#11 ·
Well, now that everyone is thoroughly confused, I have been using ivermectin for as probably at least 20 years. In the beginning I used the heartworm dosage calculated by two different vets which was not as ridiculous as the above post because giving one drop would certainly bother me as to making sure that drop got in the dog and was protective. I diluted mine in propylene glycol which is the same diluent as the ivermectin from the bottle. The dilution was 1:20 (0.5cc ivermectin to 9.5cc propylene glycol. for dogs 51-100 pounds give 0.54ml, 26-50 0.27, 0-25 give 0.14. About 10 years ago I started giving the deworming/heartworm dosage of 1cc per 110#. For puppies I dilute the dosage in the propylene glycol 2cc ivermectin to 8cc diluent and give at the rate of 1cc per 20 lb which I feel is better than giving 0.1cc of straigt ivermectin. All these doses were calculated by vets and I've never had a case of HW.
 
#14 ·
It' really not all that confusing; just give 0.1 ml ivermectin (not 'ivermectin plus') per 10 lbs body wt. That's approx. 0.7 ml for the average lab. I don't dilute,and give it to my dogs on a piece of bread or treat that they'll eat quickly. This is an overdose, but hasn't hurt them at all. Now, collies or sheepdogs might be a different story.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top