By the same token, why medicate an animal for conditions it doesn’t have? 
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The average pet owner has no business playing veterinarian without a license.
The average pet owner can do better by his/her pet by purchasing prescription hw preventative medication and dosing per instructions rather than treating for a serious hw infestation.
Certainly there are folks who have a better and broader sense of pharmacology and animal physiology who may find an equally effective method. But that is not the general public. And to suggest that folks treat their pets per off label useage of medication constitutes practicing medicine without a license, does it not?
Best bet? Unless you KNOW better, go with what your veterinarian recommends. Keep your pet safe.
[QUOTE=Ghazzu;4162281]
I’m aware of that, but we were discussing employing it for that purpose.
I love ivermectin for treating ear mites.
But they’re relatively uncommon in pet dogs.
At least not common enough that I’d be treating them monthly.
Again, I can see the utility of that approach in a kennel/pack setting, though.
I know that, too. And that’s where it can get dicey with the sensitive individuals.
Ayuh.[/QUOTE]
I knew early on that you know all of that.
I was laying it all out to make the point that I like the idea of getting all of the various problems taken care of at one time.
Keeping track of which day you gave heartworm treatment, which day you did the worms, which day you did …whatever is a pain, even with software to keep track.
It must be entered and it must be regularly looked at.
I will admit that Mrs. Gotrocks has a different attitude towards her poodle.
My wife will not use any of my methods on our poochie house dog, who showed up on our farm uninvited as a result either of her getting lost or dumped, and we suspect the latter.
Yet she has been a part of the hound life since forever.
CSSJR
If we do not wish to lose our freedom, we must learn to tolerate our
neighbor’s right to freedom even though he might express that freedom
in a manner we consider to be eccentric.
CSSJR
Except you can’t count on ivermectin to control whipworms.
And trust me, Mrs. Gotrocks doesn’t want to pay for ineffective treatment :D–how do you think she accumulated all that $$$ ?
[QUOTE=Ghazzu;4162381]
Except you can’t count on ivermectin to control whipworms.
And trust me, Mrs. Gotrocks doesn’t want to pay for ineffective treatment :D–how do you think she accumulated all that $$$ ?[/QUOTE]
It is not my intention to argue with a professional at that professional’s game.
I pointed out how one can economically prevent heartworms and MOST other worms at the same time.
I did so. My comments are on solid ground and used by thousands of persons who provide animal care.
So I am out of it with only one last comment.
Ivermec will not get rid of whip worms. Neither will the veterinary approved method of dealing with heart worms get rid of whipworms. So what does that prove?
It proves that not all arguments are logical.
Sort of like the guy who insinuated that I am practicing veterinary medicine without a license, which he indicated was not legal. Apparently not knowing that unless I actually charge money for and actively participate in treating his animal, I am not practicing.
Usually there come a point at which the learning curve in these discussions descends to the level of diminishing returns.
It appears this has reached that point.
With that, I have no further comment.
CSSJR
FYI, cssutton, I am 35 years old, worked in small animal practice for 8 years before I went to vet school.
Don’t make assumptions.
Ghazzu - thanks 
Is it safe to give a 100 lb. Dog 4 heartguards for 25 lb dog
We used to do that, but the last years our vets have changed our protocol to not skipping any months.
Seems that they have had dogs show up that were infected in those months anyway, so why take any chances?
I would wait until Monday to ask your vet, or call the local emergency clinic for advice.
They may have a better idea than we can guess here.
That is a question for your vet, not a horse forum on a thread that is 9 years old.
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