Ivermectin As Heartworm Treatment

Ivermectin is a medication that can be used to treat heartworm along with other worms and parasites like mites or lice. Heartworm treatment must address both adult and larvae stages of heartworm in order to provide a lasting cure. Ivermectin only treats larvae stages of heartworm, though it can shorten the lifespan of adult heartworms as well.

  1. Cause of Heartworm

    • Adult heartworms are parasites that live in the heart and blood vessels connecting the heart to the lungs. Heartworm is passed from an infected animal to another by the transmission of infected blood through mosquitoes. The heartworm larvae live in the infected animal's blood and pass on to other animals after they have been bitten by the insect.

    Symptoms

    • In the early stages of infection, symptoms are difficult to recognize and diagnose as heartworm. Coughing, decrease in appetite, weight loss and lack of energy during exercise can develop as the infection worsens.

    Treating Heartworm with Ivermectin

    • Once heartworm has been diagnosed, medications with ivermectin can be used to kill the larvae living in the blood stream. This is an important step but not the final stage in treating heartworm. While ivermectin does sterilize and shorten the lifespan of adult heartworms, these worms need to be killed and will require further treatment from a veterinarian.

    Prevention

    • Every dog should be treated with a preventative medication containing ivermectin once a month to stop heartworm before an infection can take hold. Giving your pet this oral medication each month, even when it is not mosquito season, is the most effective way to prevent heartworm with ivermectin.

    Precautions with Ivermectin

    • Side effects of ivermectin are rare and while some breeds, such as collies and some sheepdogs, are more susceptible to ivermectin toxicity, heartworm treatment requires low doses of the drug and is not a danger to these breeds. Always follow dosage instructions from your vet and administer ivermectin accordingly.