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... Ivomec for Canine Heartworm Prevention ...
Before you begin ... Regardless of what method of heartworm prevention you choose for your dog, testing your dog for heartworm infection by your vet is highly recommended. Even though heartworm preventives, particularly monthly oral and topical formulations, are essentially 100% effective in preventing infection when administered according to instructions, animals on heartworm prevention occasionally test positive for heartworms. This apparent lack of efficiency is usually due to owner compliance failure, travel or relocation of the animal to an area of active heartworm transmission, or unknown (or misdiagnosed) prior infection. Annual testing gives owners peace of mind in knowing that their pet is free of heartworms, and in cases where the animal is infected, it assures them of early diagnosis of infection and maximal benefits from heartworm adulticide therapy.
The treatment formula below has been verified as to it's safety and effectiveness by two licensed veterinarians, and is provided as a courtesy, but we would remind anyone choosing to use it, that we will not be held responsible for any adverse reactions or deaths of any pet resulting from it's use.
Mix ½ ml (cc) of 1% Ivomec injectable cattle wormer added to 49.5 ml (cc s) of propylene glycol. There is 5 mgs of ivermectin in the ½ ml of 1% Ivomec, now suspended in 50 ml of propylene glycol, for a concentration of 5 mg/ 50ml. This is 0.1 mg per ml, or 100 mcg per ml.
Heartguard uses 2.72 as their upper limit for a dog weighing 25 pounds; so take note that the smaller dogs are getting more, sometimes significantly more, than 2.72 mcg per pound in the weight ranges when using Heartguard.
So - multiply the weight of your dog X 2. This gives you, in MICROGRAMS, how much medication to give your dog. If it’s a tiny bit less or a tiny bit more you are still within the safe zone of 1.15 to 3 mcg per pound of body weight as per the same allowed dosage in the Heartguard. You can actually use any number between 1.15 and 3, we use " 2" because it’s easy to do in your head. Measure as accurately as possible, but don't obsess over a couple of micrograms. If you don't have access to a reasonably accurate scale please have your veterinarian weigh your puppy/dog for you.
You then divide the number you get by 100 to determine how many cc’s of the above mixture to squirt into your pup’s/dog's mouth.
We can’t measure in hundredths of a cc, so just round to the nearest whole 1/10th of a cc. In this case, a 24 lb dog should get ½ cc of the above mixture. (Rounding 0.48 up to 0.5 or ½ cc). We use, and highly recommend that you use, the 1cc diabetic type syringes to dose puppies and dogs under 10 pounds. They can be purchased from any pet catalogue or from your local pharmacy.
Again....weight of the dog in pounds x 2 divided by 100 = the number of "ccs" or for toy breeds "tenths" of a cc, of this mixture to give your puppy/dog once a month to protect it from heartworms.
When in doubt always consult your veterinarian!!!
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