Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was wondering how safe it would be to use this. I've used it to control earmites,fleas, worms and heart worms in dogs and we give it to the horses and cattle all the time. We give a couple of MLs to each dog once a month and I know it's very safe to use ie you can over dose the heck out of them with out harm.

Has anyone used it for parasite control? was thinking you could just inject it into their food, if it's safe to use should control mites and many internal parasites and they'd never get heart worm lol

Randy,
..We used to use Ivermectin for internal and external parasites. Recent experience seems to indicate that Flagyl and Panacur are more effective on internal parasites and Provent-a-mite is more effective and reportedly safer at controlling external parasites.
Jeff

>>Was wondering how safe it would be to use this. I've used it to control earmites,fleas, worms and heart worms in dogs and we give it to the horses and cattle all the time. We give a couple of MLs to each dog once a month and I know it's very safe to use ie you can over dose the heck out of them with out harm.
>>
>>Has anyone used it for parasite control? was thinking you could just inject it into their food, if it's safe to use should control mites and many internal parasites and they'd never get heart worm lol

There are some MAJOR direct effects from it's proper dosing.

"We give a couple of MLs to each dog once a month and I know it's very safe to use ie you can over dose the heck out of them with out harm."

All dog breeds cannot tolerate ivermectin, it will cross the blood-brain membrane in several breeds and will cause seizures/coma at best. It can be overdosed and cause a stupor or stroke type symptoms in more than several breeds. If it is given to a dog with a large microflaria load it can cause embolism. It will kill the parasites you mentioned as well as demodex and ticks, but will not kill whipworms or tapeworms. I was a little concerned that someone would decide to give a couple of ML's to their beloved Sheltie after reading this and kill it. But in general, you are correct...it works well for many parasites in most breeds under most conditions.

Turtles and tortoises should not be given ivermectic for the same reason some dogs can't take it. It also crosses their blood-brain membrane.

Nothing personal, just a word of caution.

Although with reptiles overdose is a serious possibility. The dillution of 1 to 1000 is effective and does not bother the snakes. I often use a slightly stronger solution but it isn't with out its costs... the alcohol base has a drying effect on the skin and usually a snake will shed a week after application. I use ivermec in conjunction with provent-a-mite with great results. Anytime I get a new snake, I just assume it has mites. I spray down the enclosure with provent-a-mite and let it dry.. it has a residual effect of 30 days. To take care of the mites on the snake I spray the snake liberally with the ivermec solution on the 1st and 14th days of the treatment. I simply don't see mites come back using this method.
I've often wondered what effect the ivermec spry has on internal parasites but I don't count on it to take care of them... Panacur is still the safest/effective treatment for most nemotodes.
All that said, I cannot overstate the importance of using the correct dilution, 1 to 1000. If you use a high potentcy its lethal. But realisticly, its no more dangerous that Provent-A-Mite if used as directed. Provent-A-Mite is composed of permethrins... these chemicals can give a fella a permanent limp if overdosed.
Good luck-
Matt Schubarth
Pet Nebula

Thanks Matt, I'll give that try, I'm the same as you I always assume that they'll have something on them.