Thread: Ivomec (ivermectin) injection for mange/heartworm prevention

Hi all,

I was reading up on mange because my puppy started losing fur around her eye. I was told that 1% ivomec solution could clear it up. I was told by the vet that it's considered "localized" and would probably go away on it's own but I can't just do nothing so I want to do some sort of treatment.

He wanted to charge about $500 for mitaban dips but I just don't want to pay that much if I don't have to.

While reading I found out about ivomec, my vet wont tell me anything about it. He is one of those try to make every last dollar sort of vets (Banfield) but im stuck there for at least a year because I did one of their pet plans for regular vaccines.

Anyhow, I'm looking for a new vet so don't worry! I'm not going to stick with Banfield.

Anyway, I bought this exact stuff:



I got it at a feed store for about $40. Now, i've never used it but i'm doing my research. I would love to be able to use this for heartworm prevention as well as clearing up this mange. Does anyone else use it? Would anyone be able to give me some tips on typical dosage, etc...

Also can the injection formula be given orally or does it have to be injected? I've read mixed things on this. Thanks!

Oh also my puppy isn't a hearding breed if that's any concern.

You never inject it. Only give it orally.

You can use it for mange. But I don't know the dosage.

You can use it for heartworms and deworming, but again, you'll have to find out how to measure and dose it.

Ask around at other vets, some of them should know. I've heard the Banfield vets are aweful.

Heartworm prevention and mange treatment has different methods of dosage with Ivermectin. For heartworm prevention, it's given orally, for mange treatment, it's given topically. You have to be very careful when doing either. I give Ivermectin for my dogs heartworm prevention, and the one I use is 1 drop for every 10 pounds. HOWEVER, there are different strengths of ivermectin, so you need to find out which one you have and talk to your vet about it.

You also need to talk to your vet about using ivermectin for mange treatment. It can be done, I've done it, however a vet will need to advise you. My vet uses Ivermectin as mange treatment as well, in mild cases, as do some other vets. In most cases, however, many vets choose to use Mitaban. As a former vet tech, I HATE that stuff. I watched it make dogs ill (never deathly ill, however), and the precautions needed as a tech just for us to be in contact with it was ridiculous. However, our dips were something like $35 per dip for 3-4 dips. I've never heard of $500, that's insane.

Talk to your vet about the ivermectin dosage, and let him advise you. It needs to be used with caution, just like any other medication.

I believe you want to use the 1%? You want the lowest % of the Ivomec. They sell different strengths. If I remember correctly, last time I picked up some, I got the 1%.

Originally Posted by txcollies

I believe you want to use the 1%? You want the lowest % of the Ivomec. They sell different strengths. If I remember correctly, last time I picked up some, I got the 1%.

Yeah, the box that she pictured has the 1% solution...diluted in propylene glycol I believe.




For heartworms, I calculated the dose for each dog, taking into account the dilution, and give them the same amount each month that they would get in Heartgard (which has the same active ingredient, Ivermectin). I measure this with a diabetic hypodermic needle, and administer orally by giving each dog a small piece of bread with the dose soaked into it.

I have no idea what the doseage would be for mange, and would not try administering it without a veterinary recommendation.

If there's any chance your puppy is partly or fully a collie breed, then you need to be extra careful, as they have a genetic predisposition to Ivermectin sensitivity.

I checked my bottle -- I have the 1%. And the dosage is one drop (it comes with a dropper) per 10 pounds for heartworm prevention. But, again, check with your vet BEFORE dosing the ivermectin yourself. Once you talk with your vet, it's easy to dose for heartworm prevention. I've done it for a long time now, and have had no problems. Ivermectin, is afterall, the chemical used in Heartguard, Iver-Heart, and Tri-Heart. Of course, those three heartworm preventatives also include 52mg of Pyrantel, which is a wormer that prevents certain types of worms, however I worm my dogs every few months anyways, so that is no concern to me.

As far as mange treatment, that is something you definitely need to talk to your vet about. It goes by the weight of the dog and the severity of the mange.

Originally Posted by MyRescueCrew

I checked my bottle -- I have the 1%. And the dosage is one drop (it comes with a dropper) per 10 pounds for heartworm prevention.

That is not universal, btw...it is many times the dose given in Heartgard, assuming the "drop" is 0.1 mL (do you even know?).

There's a reason such a high does isn't given in Heartgard...it could very well be fatal to any dog with an Ivermectin sensitivity.

I have no idea what mL the drop is, which is exactly why I stressed in my posts to talk to her vet before doing anything:

But, again, check with your vet BEFORE dosing the ivermectin yourself.

I was just stating what the dosage was on the one I used.

I buy mine from a pet pharmacy with a licensed pharmacist. They fill the different sized bottles with different amounts, and I buy the $8 bottle which does all my dogs for 3 months. It's a tiny bottle of the diluted 1% and comes with a tiny dropper. The dosage, on MY bottle, is 1 drop per 10 pounds.

It does work to treat mange, although I wouldn't worry about minor localized you could still use it to ease your mind I guess. While you are kind of stuck using that vet you could always call some other vets to ask them even if they are not your regular vet.

I've always used the 1% it for heartworm prevention at 1/10th cc per 10lbs of body weight is what I've always dosed at.

Originally Posted by Shaina

Yeah, the box that she pictured has the 1% solution...diluted in propylene glycol I believe.

That's how it's mixed.

Ah, wasn't sure what breed your dog is...better safe than sorry and all that

Good luck talking meeting with and talking to the vet! Hopefully he has experience with this and can guide you.

Originally Posted by wanderlust

Be on the safe side - have your vet do a test for ivermectin sensativity in your dog before using the stuff imho. Although the genetic trait runs pretty rampant in collies and shelties it's still worth it to know ahead of time. If you do a full dose of ivermectin and your dog has the sensativity, it can be fatal.

I agree, my Annie had a bad case of demadectic mange (vet said it was the worst he ever saw) so we started her on a miniscule dosage to make sure there was no neurological reaction. Some vets still go by the old standard "white feet don't treat." My vet was hesitant at first to start Annie on it because they had treated a Westie with it and the Westie had a horrible reaction - so they didn't want to treat any white dog with it out of precaution. Annie did just fine and is now healthy and thriving.

You never inject it. Only give it orally.

Actually, I believe you can inject it SQ (Sub-Cutaneously) but it does sting a little.

I didn't know it could be injected. That's pretty cool, though.

You learn something new every day!