Cattle Heartworm Disease & Ivomec

Whether you're keeping a cow as a pet, or using it for milk, breeding or slaughter, it must be taken care of just like any other pet. Cows, like house pets, are susceptible to heartworm disease. If the cow develops heartworm disease it must be treated with medication to avoid serious illness and eventual death. One of the methods for treating heartworm disease in cows is by using Ivomec.

  1. Identification

    • Ivomec is a brand name given to the parasiticide known as ivermectin. This parasiticide is injectable and is used to treat cattle who are suffering from heartworm disease. Ivomec is clear in appearance and contains glycerol formal, ivermectin, propylene glycol and benzyl alcohol. Dosages are given to cattle depending on their body weight. It is recommended that cattle receive 200 mcg, or micro grams, of Ivomec per kilogram of body weight.

    Function

    • While Ivomec is used to treat heartworm disease in cattle, it can also be used to treat swine. It has been approved by the Federal Drug Administration and is manufactured by a company called Durvet. Ivomec is used to treat not only heartworm in cattle, but also sucking lice, lung worms, mange mites and gastrointestinal roundworms. One dose of Ivomec can typically treat any external or internal parasites that could affect the cattles' health.

    Dosing

    • When injecting cattle with a dose of Ivomec, certain steps must be taken to ensure that infections do not develop. First, the injection site should be properly sterilized. This precaution will help reduce the risk of infection. Properly sterilized needles should always be used as well. Injections should be given in the skin located behind or in front of the animal's shoulder. Injecting into the skin will also reduce the possibility that the animal will develop an infection.

    Considerations

    • There are certain considerations that must be taken when using Ivomec to treat heartworm in cattle. The parasiticide comes in ready-to-use dosages. However, the bottles must be kept in environments where temperatures range between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, it must be kept out of the reach of children to avoid accidental poisoning. Furthermore, it is for use in swine and cattle only; it is not intended to be used in humans for the treatment of any parasites.

    Warning

    • There are certain environmental issues associated with Ivomec. The state of California has issued specific restrictions for Ivomec. In addition, if Ivomec gets into water that contains fish, it can adversely affect not only the fish but also the organisms that fish feed on. Ivomec containers must be disposed of properly to avoid contaminating food or water sources. Runoff from feed lots must also be controlled so that it doesn't enter rivers, streams, ponds or lakes.