Do your research about Australian Shepherd's and Ivermectin poisoning. It can be very harmful if not fatal to your beloved friend. If you puchase your Aussie pup from me and give him/her any type of heartwormer with IVERMECTIN in it our contract will be void, and another pup for no extra charge will not be permitted. You must purchase another. Thank you for understanding and please feel free to e-mail if you have any questions.
I located a website where you can purchase any of the following 3 heartwormers that are ok for Australian Shepherds. You are not required to have a perscription since it is located in Australia.There are certain places in the US that are not within the jurisdiction for having to have a perscription before administering heartworm medications, but they are expensive in comparison to this website. I still would have my dog heartworm tested every year if you choose to buy from an online store.
http://www.petproductsontheweb.com/
Aussies can have the following heartwormers.
I have included Pros and Cons:
1.Interceptor
Pro- easy to find, tasty flavor tab
Con- more expensive than other alternatives
2.Canimax
Pro-works for 6 weeks and is less expensive than interceptor
Con-hard to find
________________________________________________________________________
Side effects are not a concern with the extremely low doses used in commercially marketed heartworm preventives.
Problems may arise when higher doses, such as those used against skin mites, are employed but even then, side effects generally do not occur with any anti-mange doses of ivermectin except in animals with genetic sensitivity. Such individuals are usually Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, and Old English sheepdogs, though some individual animals that are not members of these sensitive breeds may also be prone to side effects. Very low test doses are often recommended to identify thes individuals regardless of their breed. Alternatively, a blood test is available to test for genetic sensitivity (see below).
Collies with ivermectin sensitivity have been found to have a mutant gene for what is called the "P-glycoprotein." The P-glycoprotein has been studied largely because overexpression of this protein (i.e. having more of it than normal) results poor function of chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of cancer. The P-glycoprotein appears to be involved in keeping drugs out of certain body tissues. Having excess P-glycoprotein keeps chemotherapy drugs from reaching the tumor. When it comes to ivermectin sensitivity the problem is the opposite: mutant or non-functional P-glycoprotein leads to failure to keep certain drugs out of the central nervous system, allowing them access to sensitive tissue. Ivermectin side effects stem from ivermectin entering the central nervous system.
Approximately 35% of Collies have a genetic mutation creating a non-functional P-glycoprotein. This allows for ivermectin doses that would normally blocked from the central nervous system to gain access. Other herding breeds as listed above also tend to express this mutation. There is now a test for P-glycoprotein mutation so that ivermectin sensitive dogs can be identified. This is a DNA test using an oral swab. Test kits can be ordered directly from the Washington State University Veterinary School via
www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcpl
The following happens to a dog that has been taking Ivermectin for only 1.5-2yrs
Side effects of concern are: dilated pupils and drunken gait which can progress to respiratory paralysis and death if medication is not withdrawn and supportive care is not initiated.
A lot of veternarians will tell you Ivermectin is completely safe now because it is given at low doses. I would still ere on the side of caution, because to me I say, "Yes it may be a low dose but given properly ever month, it could build-up over time and still cause the toxic effect." I will never give my Aussies Ivermectin and hope you will do the same.