Need feedback - likely Ivomec overdose

[Briarhoppers]

Guys I appreciate the feedback and thoughts...just getting back to the computer from being at work all day. The 3 dogs all seem to be doing better today. The one that was real bad is noticeable better! Couple observations and thoughts that will answer some of the questions you all asked.

1. Don't think it was due to toxic water in the wild b/c 2 of the dogs that reacted have been out quite a bit and the 3rd one hasn't been out of the kennel in 2 weeks.
2. The vet also suggested that I could have gotten a bad batch of dog food - don't think it is that b/c I have fed all 8 dogs the same stuff and only 3 reacted...but I changed foods just to be safe.
3. All three dogs that reacted are closely related...not sure how that plays into things, but may be that they have an intolerance to Equimax.
4. This is only the second or third time I've given Equimax...I typically use Safe-guard goat.
5. I have given all my dogs 1/10 cc per 10 lbs. of ivomec every month of their lives...every dog I have but one I have had since it was a puppy. So don't think my dogs have heart worms as they have been on ivomec since they were 4 mo. old.
6. As far as the dosage, I put 1/2" of the Equimax paste on a piece of bread and gave it to the dogs. I was told by an old timer coon hunter that he put 1" of the paste on bread for his coon hounds. I've heard others say they give one click...which amounts to about the same amount. I did not double up and give them straight ivomec at the same time.

There is no way to know for sure unless I spend a lot of money on tests that I can proove what caused this reaction, but its seems pretty clear to me that it was the Equimax. Not sure why the three dogs reacted the way they did, but I know I will not use Equimax again. And I will only use the liquid form of wormer from now on. I'm not sure if I got into a bad batch of Equimax or the ivomec all settled into one end of the tube of paste or what happened. I know many of you say you have used Equimax w/ no prob. and I believe you. But, you got to see that others have experienced the exact same thing as me and if you run a google search for it you will find plenty of other folks saying the same thing about Equimax paste. Many folks have had dogs die from it. Also there is a warning on the product that says it can kill dogs...so I'm sure its there b/c folk had dogs dying from it. So be careful! I'd hate for any of your dogs to go thru what mine are right now. Praying for a full recovery for them.
-Pete

[Shady Grove Beagles]

Glad dogs seem to be doing better Pete.You said the three that were having some kind of reaction were related so I'm guessing Crocket,Fancy and Maggie?Hope all turns out well.

[Briarhoppers]

Yep Dana that is right - Maggie, Fancy and Crockett. I noticed it first in Crockett. Then the next day I went out and thought Maggie may be dying. Loaded her up and went and see Dr. Alexander. He wanted to put her down on the spot. But, we agreed to give her 24 hrs. and if she wasn't improving I'd bring her back in. Well, this morn. she was in much, much better shape. She is walking around her pen and jumping up on the fence as I scratch her head. She still acts as if she can't see well...maybe at all. Crockett and Fancy also seem to be improving and seeing somewhat today...hard to tell how well they are seeing.

Dr. Alexander said when I left, she doesn't have a 10% chance of making it. I just don't think he had seen a reaction to ivomec / equimax like this...at least this severe. He wouldn't believe Maggie today if he saw her....yesterday she was laying on her side, falling over if she stood up, twitching and shaking and drooling everywhere.
-Pete

[dawg182]

vet told me high doses of ivermectin lead to the kidney failure in my hound. i never give more than 1/10 of a cc per dog! i cc of ivermectin has 100,000 mg of the active ingredient. a hartguard chewable monthy heartworm tablets has about 58 mg of the same active incredient. he said he cannot prove it but he sees a correlation between hounds, premature kidney failure, and ivomectin in the south where dogs are overexposed to the ivomectin and dehydrated often. which he assured me most 'good' hounds are dehydrated frequently when they run because they wont stop to drink when they should. so use ivomectin but BE CAREFUL, it is not jesus in a bottle like most people think and can hurt ur hounds.

[DAN LANG]

..if you are giving more then a pea size of equimax for a a beagle, its too much.......

I use liquid ivermectin..........I cut it 10 times..then give 1 cc for each 10 lbs........makes overdosing difficult............
.....I am making some up today...I use propylene glycol....get it at TSC.....take 10 parts of that to one ivemectin...then give 1 cc of that for 10 lbs....has worked well....

every once in awhile there is some one on here with an overdose situtation................