Alternative Medications for Ivermectin Toxicity

Ivermectin is a combination of avermectins that works to increase the activity levels of certain receptor cells in the central nervous system. Ivermectin is found in heartworm preventatives and anti-parasitic medications for treatment of mites that can cause mange in a dog. When a dog is hypersensitive to ivermectin it can develop ivermectin toxicity when the ivermectin leaks into the central nervous system---this can be lethal. Symptoms of ivermectin toxicity include abnormal behavior, depression, excessive drooling, dilated pupils, head bobbing, groaning, disorientation, weakness and difficulty breathing. Immediate care is needed if a dog exhibits any of these signs, and although veterinary treatment is best, there are a few things you can do from home to treat ivermectin toxicity.

  1. Induce Vomiting

    • Induce vomiting by giving him 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide for every 10 lbs. of weight. This can help the dog to vomit the contents of his stomach within 5 minutes of consumption of the hydrogen peroxide. Use a syringe to administer the peroxide into the area between the tongue and the cheek so that he will not choke on the fluid.

      This method will only help if the dog received the ivermectin within the last 4 to 6 hours, according to petmed.com. If it has been longer than 4 to 6 hours since the dog received the ivermectin treatment, vomiting will not help to stop the toxicity.

    Activated Charcoal

    • Activated charcoal can typically be found in the vitamin section of most grocery stores. It is used to reduce the absorption of up to 60 percent of toxic substances. The charcoal absorbs the toxic chemicals and helps to reduce the toxicity of the substance to the animal.

    Care

    • The recovery time for ivermectin toxicity can take from a few weeks to months, according to peteducation.com. A few things can be done to care for your pet while he is at home. He should have a soft bed to sleep on and should be turned over every few hours to keep bed sores from developing. If bed sores do develop, they should be treated properly. A feeding tube may be needed to ensure that the dog receives enough calories and fluid intake.