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re: My lab with "heartworms"

Posted on 1/21/13 at 10:58 am to
Posted by Vol Fan in the Bayou
Member since Nov 2009
4158 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 10:58 am to
Hit enter way too soon.


So last year, about this time, my male lab was diagnosed with heartworms. I was heart broken because I thought I did something to him. (Honestly, it killed me)

Well, I did a ton of research and talked to some "older" vets. Several of them told me to do what they did years and years ago. Just keep using Ivomec. So I did. I gave him a tad bit more than I would normally give him.

Fast forward a year. My lab is heartworm free. It must of have worked.

Funny thing is, my lab never showed signs of having the worms. Maybe it was in the early stages - or maybe he never had them. Either way, I am tickled pink I have a healthy 6 year old dog that is clear and free of heart worms.




This post was edited on 1/21/13 at 11:00 am
Posted by m2pro
Member since Nov 2008
28670 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 11:00 am to
Badass looking dog. WHEN i get a house/yard big enough, i will be getting a lab, fa'sho.
Posted by Fishhead
Elmendorf, TX
Member since Jan 2008
12196 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 11:06 am to


Clyde says congrats on getting well.
This post was edited on 1/21/13 at 11:08 am
Posted by offshoretrash
Farmerville, La
Member since Aug 2008
10184 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 11:10 am to
quote:

Just keep using Ivomec.


Before the big Ivomec craze I knew a Vet that trapped and he gave ever coyote he caught a shot of it. He said it was a 100% cure for any parasites, including mange. I asked him then about giving it to a dog and he said it was the way to go and it's hard to overdose them.
Posted by Me Bite
A.K.A. - Bite Me
Member since Oct 2007
7148 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 11:48 am to
Barkley says congrats!

This post was edited on 1/21/13 at 11:49 am
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
98649 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 12:21 pm to
The problem is when the worms die, they end up in the lungs and can throw a blood clot. With the shot, you can keep them quiet for four weeks and minimize the risk. With the slow kill method, you don't know when it will happen. When our lab got heartworms, it was a risk we weren't willing to take. Glad it worked out for you and your pup.
Posted by LSUVET82
Florida
Member since May 2011
108 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 1:05 pm to
People tend to think all heartworm infections are the same. There are many different classes of heartworms. You can even have heartworms and have a negative test. The test only comes back positive if you have adult females. An all male infection will produce a negative test. People compare heartworm treatments but you have to compare stage of disease. If your dog was on heartworm prevention and came up positive its likely had 1or 2 worms. In these cases ivermectin can often times kill the worms at higher doses. Ivermectin can also be toxic to dogs at high doses. The problem is ivermectin has been used so extensively over the last 30 years concerns are arising that there may be resistance like bacteria to antibiotics. Glad your dog was one of the lucky ones. A lot aren't so lucky.
Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
8001 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 1:13 pm to
Great looking Yellow. When I lose the ole gal of the house...she's 14, Wife promised me I could get a male. Already got his name picked out. Will be looking for a lab again. I love those guys. So much expression in their face. You can really tell when they are listening.

Congrats on HW free. I've heard the same about the Ivomectin....good stuff. Glad it's not regulated by the FDA...they'd pull it from the market like they do all good drugs for humans.
Posted by Soul Gleaux
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2012
4029 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 6:02 pm to
My lab (RIP ) tested positive for them once, eventhough he had been on prevention his whole life. The vet said some shite about it being a national problem with that brand of meds, like a bad batch or something. Same thing though, they put him on something that eventually rid him of it.
Posted by Libertariantiger
Member since Nov 2012
981 posts
Posted on 1/21/13 at 6:12 pm to
My pup tested "light positive" gave him the monthly pill religiously 5-6 days before it was due and he tested negative a yr later. That was 3 yr ago and all neg since. Read up on heart worm pills and it is critical to give them on time in the summer. I switched to the shot because as I get older months run together and couldn't remember on time.
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