Available as tablets or chewables for the prevention of heartworms, as a topical solution for the treatment of ear mites, or as an oral or injectable remedy for other parasite-related issues.
Ivermectin was unveiled as one of the most all-encompassing anti-parasite drugs ever in the middle of the 1980s. With its introduction, parasite treatment for horses and livestock underwent a complete revolution. For dogs, it permanently transformed heartworm prevention from a daily tablet to a monthly one.
Most common intestinal worms, most mites, and some lice can be successfully treated with ivermectin (tapeworms being an exception). It is useless for dealing with flies, ticks, fleas, or flukes. Although it has the potential to limit the lifespan of adult heartworms (which reside in the heart and pulmonary arteries), it is efficient in eradicating the “microfilariae” or larval heartworms that circulate in the blood.
Ivermectin is most frequently used in small animals for the following purposes:
Ivermectin—does it eradicate tapeworms?
Practitioners may now treat tapeworms on a monthly basis thanks to the development of specific broad-spectrum parasiticides, saving clients the unpleasant surprise of finding segments on their canines.
TAPEWORM PREVENTIONWHY NOT?
The white telltale indications of tapeworms are among the most repulsive for clients to find on their dogs among all internal parasites. According to Byron L. Blagburn, MS, PhD, of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Auburn, AL, “Tapeworm segments, when discharged in feces, are more repulsive to pet owners than roundworms.” Pet owners also want them to be removed quickly when they locate them.
But now that certain broad-spectrum parasiticides have been developed, doctors may treat the worms monthly, saving their clients from the unpleasant surprise of finding tapeworm segments on their canines.
According to Blagburn, using a praziquantel-containing medication on a regular basis can help reduce tapeworms and a variety of other parasite species in addition to providing monthly heartworm prevention. These goods offer a quick and simple answer to a potentially messy customer situation.
WHAT ARE THE CLINICAL SIGNS OF A TAPEWORM INFECTION?
Given that pets can not exhibit any clinical symptoms, diagnosing tapeworm infections can be challenging. But if clinical indications are present, they frequently consist of:
- pieces on the bedding, in the hair, or elsewhere
- the perineum being licked excessively (perianal pruritus)
- rolling on the back.
A MONTHLY HEARTWORM PREVENTIVE ISN’T ENOUGH
You might be perplexed as to why tapeworms are present when giving pets gastrointestinal dewormers together with heartworm prevention. The heartworm medication’s main heartworm prevention component is ineffective against tapeworms. Additionally, praziquantel, a medication made exclusively to treat and prevent tapeworms, is ineffective against any other kinds of intestinal parasites. However, taking a once-monthly preventative including praziquantel, ivermectin, and pyrantel pamoate will combat numerous parasites and shield dogs from hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and heartworms*.
Before beginning a prophylactic program, all dogs should be checked for heartworm infection. Infrequent reports of digestive and neurological side effects have been made after using IVERHART MAX. Use with caution in dogs under 10 lbs. that are unwell, weak, or underweight. For more details, see the synopsis.
IVERHART MAX from Virbac Animal Health is a once-monthly broad-spectrum internal parasite preventive. For comprehensive product information, please reference the package insert. Indications: For use in dogs to treat and control roundworms (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma braziliense), and tapeworms, as well as to prevent canine heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae (Dirofilaria immitis) for a month (30 days) after infection (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis).
SYMPATHIZE AND STRESS PREVENTION
Although most animals with tapeworm infections exhibit minimal or no clinical symptoms, it is clear that consumers anticipate the issue to be resolved if they see proglottids on the animal or in the bedding, particularly if a recent fecal check was deemed negative. Speaking to veterinarians around the nation about parasite control and client communication is Gary Holfinger, DVM, a small animal practitioner and member of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) who has regularly dealt with this circumstance. According to Dr. Holfinger, it’s crucial to clarify the tapeworm life cycle and emphasize the significance of preventing access to intermediate hosts in order to allay the client’s fears. He asserts that it is crucial for professionals to comfort the distressed client and make use of the following communication tools:
- Recognize the client’s anxiety and disgust; don’t dismiss or make fun of them for reacting negatively to the discovery of proglottids on the pet or the bedding.
- Inform the owner that while fecal testing is highly useful for controlling parasites, it is not very good at identifying tapeworms and that it is frequently possible to identify a problem just by looking for proglottids.
- Explain the tapeworm life cycle in straightforward language, stressing that transmission and infection need the existence of an intermediate host.
- Examine the pet’s past, paying particular attention to its nocturnal tendencies, indoor versus outdoor living, flea control measures, and predatory chances.
- Offer advice on how to adjust the pet’s routines and employ preventative measures to reduce the exposure of the pet to intermediate hosts.
- If the owner has the ability or willingness to alter the pet’s lifestyle, offer preventive therapy that can lessen the vector source or systematically treat the pet for tapeworm infestation.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FLEA CONTROL
According to Dr. Holfinger, year-round flea control is advised and monthly flea control is a great way to lower the risk of some tapeworms. He does note that flea treatment is frequently insufficient to stop tapeworm infection. Since dogs are predators by nature, the risk of contracting tapeworms exists even with effective flea treatment since small rodents also act as intermediate hosts for other kinds of tapeworms. The largest benefit from a monthly preventive will be seen in pets who spend time outdoors because they are more likely to develop flea infestations and tapeworm infections.
Does ivermectin eradicate tapeworms and roundworms?
The gold standard is ivermectin. Ivermectin destroys other kinds of parasitic worms in addition to killing roundworms in infected plants, animals, and people while sparing the host organisms any harm. It also has little negative effects and can treat illnesses brought on by arthropods like mites, ticks, and lice.
Ivomec treats what in canines?
Interest in the veterinary medicine ivermectin has increased recently as the topic has become more often discussed. The Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) of the ASPCA has compiled some information to keep you informed and enable you to maintain the health, happiness, and safety of your pets. See what it’s used for and what can happen if your pet gets into it by reading on.
What Is Ivermectin Used For?
Animal parasites are managed using ivermectin, a medication from the avermectin family. It is mostly used to treat parasites of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract as well as some external parasites that affect cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, and swine. It can also be used to protect dogs and cats from contracting heartworm.
There are numerous forms available for this medication, including intravenous, oral solutions, paste, topicals, chewable pills, and more.
Only when instructed by a veterinarian should you give your pet this medication.
Signs and Symptoms of Overdose in Dogs and Cats
There may be serious or even fatal symptoms of an overdose in canines or felines. An example of a sign is:
- dilated eyes
- Depression
- Tremors
- Ataxia (impaired balance or coordination)
- Vocalization
- Disorientation
- Dementia
- diminished heart rate
- Hypothermia
- Drunkenness
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
- Dehydration
- Recumbency (frequent leaning, reclining or resting)
- Blindness
- the breath slowly
- Drooling
- Death and coma
Ivermectin kills what kinds of parasites in dogs?
Ivermectin is most frequently prescribed to dogs and cats to prevent heartworm disease. Additionally, a number of internal and external parasites were treated with drugs that were “off label” or “extra-label.” Ivermectin, for instance, can be used to treat intestinal parasites including hookworms and roundworms in dogs as well as capillaries, mites, and scabies. Ivermectin can be used to treat cat scabies and ear mites in cats.
In veterinary medicine, many medications are frequently used for off-label uses. In these situations, pay close attention to your veterinarian’s instructions and warnings.
How is ivermectin given?
Other deworming drugs may be taken in addition to ivermectin. Ivermectin is offered as tablets, chewable tablets, a topical liquid (for treating ear mites), and an injection that will be given to your pet by your veterinarian.
You can administer it with or without food. Give the medication with food or a little treat to see if that helps if your pet vomits or acts sick after receiving it on an empty stomach. In case the vomiting persists, call your veterinarian.
The procedure for applying topical ivermectin to your pet’s ears will be explained by your veterinarian.
The effects of this drug should be felt within one to two hours, but they might not be immediately apparent. As a result, laboratory tests may be necessary to assess this medication’s efficacy.
What if I miss giving my pet the medication (or my shipment is late)?
As soon as you remember, administer the missing dose; after that, wait the period of time between doses that your veterinarian has advised before administering the subsequent dose. Don’t administer additional dosages or two doses at once to your dog.
If you are taking ivermectin to prevent heartworms and it has been more than 8 weeks since your last dose, speak with your veterinarian for advice.
Are there any potential side effects?
Ivermectin is normally well tolerated but when used in large doses, such as for mite infestations, it can have substantial neurological adverse effects.
Certain breeds, like collies, are only moderately sensitive to ivermectin dosages and may have negative effects at lesser levels.
Some dogs may get a reaction resembling shock from ivermectin. Contact your veterinarian if this occurs.
Contact your veterinarian if you have any side effects, including as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, unsteadiness when walking, or a confused temperament.
The effects of this quick-acting medicine should wear off after 24 hours, though they may last longer in animals with liver or renal illness.
Are there any risk factors for this medication?
Ivermectin shouldn’t be administered to puppies under 6 weeks of age or to animals lacking a recent negative heartworm test.
Ivermectin sensitivity varies among dog breeds; examples include collies, sheepdogs, and collie- or sheepdog-cross breeds. This is frequently caused by a particular genetic mutation (MDR1) that reduces their tolerance for large doses of ivermectin. These dog breeds can safely receive heartworm preventive doses.
Are there any drug interactions I should be aware of?
There are some drugs that intensify ivermectin’s effects in a pet’s brain (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, cyclosporine, erythromycin, amlodipine besylate, and nifedipine). Spinosad, a popular flea preventive medication, should not be supplied when high dosages of ivermectin are used to treat mite infestations. Combining spinosad with the minimal doses of ivermectin seen in heartworm preventives is safe.
Tell your vet about any medications your pet is receiving, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal treatments.
Is there any monitoring that needs to be done with this medication?
Before administering the medication, screening may be carried out on breeds of dogs who may be sensitive to ivermectin. A pet’s genetic mutation that causes negative reactions to ivermectin can be detected by DNA testing.
How do I store ivermectin?
Ivermectin-based products should be kept at room temperature, away from heat sources, in a dry, cold environment. The effectiveness of the medication may be lowered by heat or moisture exposure.
What should I do in case of emergency?
Call your veterinarian’s office right away if you think your pet may have taken too much medication or is having an unfavorable reaction to it. Follow their instructions for contacting an emergency facility if they are not readily available.
How are tapeworms killed by wormers?
Cons: There is a low danger of adverse effects, safe and reliable, kills all parasites within seven days, veterinarian recommended, kills four types of worms.
Cons: Not suitable for puppies under 3 weeks old or under 2 pounds.
With just one dose, the broad-spectrum dewormer Drontal Plus can get rid of a variety of parasites. Within a week, it eliminates whipworms, hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. Simply give your dog one Drontal Plus Taste Tab flavored chewable tablet on its own or with a little bit of food.
Pyrantel pamoate, praziquantel, and febantel are three potent active components in Drontal Plus that together cover four types of tapeworms, two species of hookworms, two species of roundworms, and whipworms.
Dewormers are safe for pups as young as 3 weeks old and weighing at least 2 pounds, and they have a very minimal risk of negative effects. It needs to be prescribed by your vet, and an appointment is crucial since your dog can have other parasites that even a broad-spectrum dewormer can’t get rid of.
Your dog could need one or more follow-up treatments after using a broad-spectrum dewormer like Drontal Plus to ensure that all the worms have been removed. To avoid further tapeworm infections, your dog should also be treated with a flea control treatment if they have fleas.
I have worms; how much ivermectin should I feed my dog?
Ivermectin Dosage Information for Dogs and Cats for canines: For heartworm prevention, the dosage is 0.0015 to 0.003 mg per pound (0.003 to 0.006 mg/kg) once a month; for cutaneous parasites, it is 0.15 mg per pound (0.3 mg/kg) once, then repeated in 14 days; and for gastrointestinal parasites, it is 0.1 mg per pound (0.2 mg/kg) monthly.
Ivermectin kills what types of intestinal parasites?
Descriptions. River blindness (onchocerciasis), intestinal infection from threadworms (strongyloidiasis), and other worm infections are all treated with ivermectin.
How quickly does ivermectin kill parasites?
Currently, ivermectin is used to treat a number of illnesses and infections, the majority of which largely affect the world’s poor. But what is piqueing the curiosity and igniting the excitement in the scientific and global health research community is the new opportunities with regard to ivermectin usage, or re-purposing it to control a completely new range of ailments.
Ivermectin is predominantly used “off-label” to treat a number of various diseases, but it is also registered for use in humans to treat Onchocerciasis, Strongyloidiasis, and Lymphatic filariasis when combined with albendazole. Although oral medications are frequently used, ivermectin dosages have also been successfully administered topically, subcutaneously, and per rectum (Figure 5). Ivermectin has been used for more than 30 years to treat parasitic infections in mammals and has a very good safety profile. Several studies have shown that it has a low incidence of side effects when used as an oral parasite treatment. 50 Several negative responses have been noted, however they are often minor and don’t call for stopping the medication.
Research is currently shedding light on the promise that the medication still harbors and the prospects of its combating a new range of diseases or killing vectors of various disease-causing parasites, in addition to the gradual appreciation of the numerous and priceless health and socioeconomic benefits that ivermectin use can provide.
Ivermectin has been found to have a variety of disease-fighting properties, as shown by the following:
Myiasis
A fly infestation known as myiasis develops inside the host. Many people in need who reside in underdeveloped, remote tropical areas where myiatic flies proliferate are unable to get surgical removal of parasites, which is frequently the only treatment option. Ivermectin, which has also been used successfully as a non-invasive treatment for orbital myiasis, a rare and preventable ocular illness, has been used to treat oral myiasis. 52
Trichinosis
Around 11 million people around the world have Trichinella roundworm infections. Trichinella spiralis, the species that causes the majority of these illnesses, is killed by ivermectin. 53
Disease vector control
Ivermectin kills a variety of insects quite effectively. Avermectins were shown to be poisonous to nearly all of the 84 species of insects studied, including the malaria vectors and serious neglected tropical diseases like leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis (see below). Ivermectin suppresses feeding at sub-lethal levels and interferes with mating behavior, oviposition, egg development, and hatching. 54, 55
Malaria
Ivermectin in the human bloodstream after a typical oral dose can kill mosquitoes (Anopheles gambiae), the most serious malaria-causing parasite that transmits Plasmodium falciparum. 56, 57, 58, 59 Ivermectin has also been shown to kill parasites even at sub-micromolar concentrations by preventing the nucleus import of polypeptides from P. falciparum’s signal recognition particle (PfSRP). Ivermectin may therefore turn out to be a practical, cutting-edge method of reducing malaria transmission when combined with other anti-malarial drugs. 60, 61 Due to the growing significance of outdoor/residual malaria transmission and the possibility of pesticide resistance, the use of ivermectin as a second malaria control tool is currently garnering more consideration. The establishment of the “Ivermectin Research for Malaria Elimination Network” is one result. 62
Leishmaniasis
To help control the Phlebotomine sandfly vectors that spread Leishmania parasites, ivermectin has been suggested as a potential rodent-bait feed-through pesticide. 63, 64 Ivermectin tests on one blood-feeding sandfly vector, Phlebotomus papatasi, showed that if the blood feed occurs 12 days after treatment, the vector dies. Ivermectin does not have a significant effect on Leishmania major, despite the fact that it has been demonstrated to cause the death or loss of infectivity in promastigotes after exposure to the drug. However, ivermectin outperforms rifampicin, nystatin, and erythromycin in terms of destroying promastigotes. 65, 66 Ivermectin kills Leishmania tropica parasites more efficiently than other medications for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis, including pentostam, rifampicin, amphotericin B, berenil, metronidazole, and nystatin, and speeds up the healing of skin ulcers. 60 Ivermectin has a lot of potential for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis when used in conjunction with appropriate surgical wound care. 67
African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
Ivermectin has the potential to aid in the control of these African trypanosomiasis vectors, as evidenced by the fact that tsetse flies (Glossina palpalis) fed on animals treated with the insecticide die within 5 days. 68, 69 Studies on mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei parasites showed that ivermectin treatment doubled their survival time in addition to being effective in killing tsetse flies, indicating that there is room to further investigate the use of ivermectin in the treatment of African trypanosomiasis from various angles. 70
American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease)
Ivermectin treatment cleared the ticks from Trypanosoma cruzi parasite-infected dogs, but had no effect on the dogs’ infection or the ticks themselves. As the time between ivermectin therapy and blood feed increased, the mortality of triatomine insect vectors of T. cruzi feeding on the dogs relatively soon after treatment decreased quickly. 71
Schistosomiasis
More than 200 million individuals worldwide suffer from schistosomiasis, which is brought on by schistosoma species. The only treatment for schistosomiasis now available is praziquantel, despite the growing concern over schistosome-resistant parasites. 72, 73 Since glutamate signaling has been shown in schistosomes, ivermectin is a powerful activator of glutamate-gated chloride channels.74, 75 The tegument may include an ivermectin target. Researchers in Egypt found that ivermectin had promising anti-schistosomal effects after testing its impact on mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. It has potential since it improves hepatic lesions and has schistosomicidal activity on adult worms, particularly females. It also has an ovicidal effect. 76, 77 Ivermectin’s ability to kill Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate hosts involved in the schistosomiasis re-infection cycle, has also been documented. This information supports the idea of using ivermectin to help control one of the most serious neglected tropical diseases in the world. 78, 79
Bedbugs
The Cimicidae family of parasitic insects includes bedbugs, which only consume human blood. The common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, feeds on human blood, and infestations are dramatically rising in impoverished homes across North America and Europe. Ivermectin is incredibly successful at getting rid of or preventing bed bug infestations. 80
Rosacea
Ivermectin’s broad-spectrum anti-parasitic actions are widely known, but it has only recently been discovered that it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Ivermectin is used “off-label” to treat conditions like demodicosis and blepharitis that are brought on by Demodex mites. Oral ivermectin combined with topical permethrin is a secure and efficient treatment for severe demodicosis. In addition, rosacea, a chronic skin disorder marked by recurring inflammatory lesions, has been related to demodex mites 81. Topical medications are the initial line of treatment for long-term symptom management and disease progression. Ivermectin 1% cream is a new once-daily topical medication for rosacea lesions that has just acquired approval from American and European regulators for the treatment of individuals with rosacea lesions. It is more effective and safe than all current options82.
Asthma
In a 2011 study, the effect of ivermectin on allergic asthma symptoms in mice was examined. It was discovered that ivermectin (at 2 mg kg1) dramatically reduced immune cell recruitment, cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and serum secretion of ovalbumin-specific IgE and IgG1. Since ivermectin can effectively reduce inflammation, it may be helpful in the treatment of inflammatory airway illnesses such as allergic asthma and goblet cell hypersecretion of mucus. 83
Epilepsy
Parts of South Sudan and northern Uganda are affected by the enigmatic and troublesome epilepsy condition known as Nodding syndrome (NS). Tanzania has a locus where it is endemic, however the prevalence is modest and constant. 84, 85 Like other varieties of epilepsy, this one has significant socioeconomic effects and is associated with intense social stigma. 86 Children and adolescents who suffer from NS have a paroxysmal bout of forward and downward head movement, with the nodding episodes signifying epilepsy seizures. 87 Various degrees of mental retardation are present in children with NS, and they frequently also exhibit development stunting and a failure to acquire secondary sexual traits (hyposexual dwarfism). Before the nodding episodes start, the affected youngsters appear to be in good health, yet several of them end up dying from uncontrolled seizures. 84 Although the exact origin of NS is still unknown, an unexplained connection to onchocerciasis infection does seem to exist. 88, 89, 90 Ivermectin was first administered widely in 1997 by the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, which operated in the three affected nations. It wasn’t always possible to conduct business in areas impacted by conflicts, though. The biennial distribution of ivermectin in regions affected by both onchocerciasis and NS since 2012 has corresponded with a marked decrease in the incidence of new NS cases after the end of the civil war in northern Uganda. Although there is no concrete evidence to suggest a relationship, 2013 saw no new cases recorded. 91
