How to Get Rid of Heartworm in Cattle

Heartworms are a threat to all livestock. They can be hard to diagnose, and early treatment is essential to save the life of the infected animals. If you suspect your cattle have heartworms, consult your veterinarian immediately. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug that has proven effective at killing and preventing heartworms in cattle, even though it hasn't been approved to treat heartworms. Regular treatments with Ivermectin will prevent heartworm infestations of your cattle herd.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 sterile syringe, 16 gauge, 20ml
  • 1 bottle injectable Ivermectin solution
  • Squeeze shoot or head shoot (optional)
  • Livestock scales if available
  • Alcohol
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get a positive diagnosis of a heartworm infestation from your veterinarian before you attempt to treat your cattle.

    • 2

      Run the animal into a holding shoot. If you do not have a holding shoot, restrain the cattle with a rope. This will make administering the medicine easier.

    • 3

      Weigh the cow or estimate her weight as close as possible.

    • 4

      With your syringe, draw up the amount of Ivermectin needed. The dosage for cattle is 1 ml for every 110 lbs of body weight. That means if your cow weighs 1,100 lbs., you would administer 10 ml of Ivermectin. If your cow weighs more than 1,100 lbs., use two injection sites. The amount of Ivermectin given in one site should be limited to 10 ml.

    • 5

      Sterilize the injection site with alcohol. Inject the Ivermectin under loose skin either directly in front of or behind the shoulder.

    • 6

      Repeat this treatment once a month to prevent future infections.