Warning: Your Dogs, and Ivermectin Dewormer
I just learned of another sad episode of a dog being poisoned and blinded after lapping up ivermectin dewormer paste, dropped from a horse's mouth after treatment. So it doesn't happen to your dog(s), here are some heads-up points you should know:
* A genetic mutation, known to be present in certain dog breeds (Collies, Shelties, German and Australian Shepherds, for instance, plus mixes derived from them), is responsible for the problem. A dog with this mutation is unable to process the drug effectively out of his system, and suffers reactions--sometimes fatal--as a result. Blindness is common. Learn more here.
(Ed's dog, Ranger, shown above, is a mixed-breed guy tracing to the affected breeds.)
* It may only take as little as 1/4 teaspoon of the deworming drug to cause serious effects in a dog who ingests it. A horse can easily spit out this much, or you can have this much left over in a discarded tube that a dog finds and starts to chew on.
* Dogs find flavored ivermectins--ones made for increased palabability to horses--especially tasty. They may sniff out and eat amounts falling to the ground from treated horses, or may dig through garbage to find discarded tubes of dewormer with residue remaining.
* Scientists at Washington State University have pinpointed the mutated gene, and have developed a test for it. The results will indicate whether your dog is susceptible to poisoning from ivermectin and certain other drugs.
* Play it safe by keeping your dog(s) confined whenever you plan to administer ivermectin to horses. Watch horses closely after giving the drug, to make sure they haven't spit any out. Wipe up althing that falls and discard safely. Store tubes of ivermectin paste, whether new or used, out of dogs' reach. Dispose of used tubes with care.
* Never give leftover equine dewormer to your dog!
posted by Juli Thorson @ 3:37 PM
17 comments
17 Comments:
Good to know! We have a Border Collie and an adorable Australian Shepherd puppy. The puppy tries to steal the dewormer tubes from my pockets, I will have to watch him closer.
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I posted a link to your post on the GSD Group of Spokane's website.
Important because so many horse owners also have dogs - and you know we country girls are more relaxed about our dogs that most of our city counter parts. They roam around the farm and do and eat pretty much whatever they want - which is why this is sooo important to keep in mind while worming. I mean how many times does your horse fling paste wormer through the air? Mine do all the time. I never go wipe it up. I will now.
Thanks, Steph, for helping to spread the word.
Some important work being done at WSU!
Wow, I had no idea!Thanks for spreading the word. I'll definitely be more careful!
I'm so very glad you posted this. I did not know this until my vet mentioned it the other day to a woman who was worming her dogs that way. She'd give them a dollop along with the horses. I didn't realize it was extremely toxic to dogs. Thanks for spreading the word!
I'll definitely be more careful when I work the horses. Wonder if it wouldn't hurt to spray the ground with a water hose after worming to blast up any little bits that might have fallen. I might not be able to see them with my human eye, but I'm sure my puppy's nose could find them...
Wait, I'm confused...I thought Heartguard contained Ivermectin. Maybe it's a very small dose?
Some canine dewormers do include ivermectin. And they may cause ill effects in dogs with the genetic mutation as well, even though they're at much lower concentration that what you'd give a horse.
The gene test developed at Washington State University--link in the original post--will tell you if your dog has the mutation that prevents proper metabolizing of ivermectin and other drugs.
I just heard of something else today. Landscapers are using a mulch that is made from coco bean hulls (I believe it was the hulls) and some dogs get very sick or can die from it. It smells wonderful! The program I heard was warning people not to use it.
I've known for some time about Ivermectin and dogs. After I worm my horses, the tube AND the cap go back into the clear wrap and into the box it came in then wrap those in a plastic bag and put them in a dog proof container. Although my dogs are quite large, Dobermans, and get Heartguard that does not mean they can still can't become ill. My Jack Russell on the other hand, I am not willing to take that risk.
Always be careful with ALL types of meds.
Thanks for that info! Will sure be on the lookout. We have a couple of clean up Goldens that hang out in the barn.
Juli
This is a very serious issue, and one I'd not heard about before. Would you mind if I pointed people to this post in my own blog?
Thanks,
I like your blog by the way. Very informative and entertaining.
Do feel free to pass along this info or link to my post, and don't forget that WSU (link in original post) can test your dogs for susceptibility to ivermectin poisoning.
Last night my dashound, Abby was taken to the emergency room not knowing she had eaten the ivermectin horse wormer. She was diagnosed this morning with posioning with ivermectin. They are saying 3 to 5 days in vet care on iv's for fluids and feeding. She is currently blind and very jerky with her movements. Yesterday (I have horse boarders) one of my boarders was having her horses feet done and worming them after they were done. I am sure this is where Abby picked it up from. If she makes it and for the sake of my other dogs, I WILL be extremely careful about worming horses around my dogs. So terrible sad to see her in this condition. I am a 4-H horse leader and you know what is going to be on the next meeting adjenda.
Billie, I am so sorry to learn about your dog. I hope she recovers.
This information about ivermectin and dogs is very important to pass along. Not all dogs are susceptible (they don't all have the mutated gene that causes the problem), but better safe than sorry.
We just had our dog turn up blind yesterday...took him to a canine opthalmologist this morning who said, "You have horses? When's the last time you wormed them?" They said he 'should' get better...hoping for the best!
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