Is Ivermectin heartworm prevention safe for my Old English Sheepdog?

Technically, all heartworm preventatives (even those with ivermectin) are safe in dogs with an MDR1 gene mutation since the effective dose of medication in heartworm is significantly lower than that which would cause neurotoxicity. However, most vets will preferentially choose selamectin (Revolution) or milbemycin (Interceptor) based products for MDR1 mutant dogs over ivermectin (Heartgard) based products. If Tasha has historically been very sensitive to heartworm preventatives, I would advise giving her flea/tick prevention and heartworm prevention 2 weeks apart rather than simultaneously. Your vet will be able to perform a blood test for heartworm disease prior to starting Tasha on a heartworm preventative, as all are prescription based.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a good question, especially with some Australian Shepherds having a mutation of their MDR-1 gene. Fortunately, Heartgard is safe to use in these breeds for the prevention of heartworms. The amount of ivermectin contained within a monthly dose is not harmful/toxic to dogs even with the MDR-1 mutation. I would be careful to ensure that Josie does not accidentally ingest multiple months-worth of doses, as this cumulative dose could potentially be toxic to her. As far as topical flea and tick preventatives go, brands such as Frontline and K9 Advantix are also safe to use in these breeds. I hope this is helpful!

I am not familiar with Agmectin but from what I read about it, it is a topical product for fleas and ticks - not the same product as Ivermectin. You can give the injectable Ivermectin that you were giving previously orally (by mouth) so why don't you do that instead? Same dosing as for injecting it. Collie breeds are more susceptible to ivermectin (ie: Australian cattle dogs, Australian Shepherds, Shelties, Collies, etc). Not really German Shepherds or Malanois. If he hasn't had any problems before with Ivermectin then he should be fine now. I would suggest using a product such as [Tri-Heart Plus](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tri-heart-plus-chewable-tablets-for-dogs-51-to-100-lbs) or [HeartGard](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/heartgard-plus-chewables-for-dogs-51-to-100-lbs) instead. Much safer and no chance of overdosing. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

No Ivermectin is not safe, if your vet chooses to use ivermectin he must do an MDR-1 blood test prior to that, this test will reveal if your dog has the gene that causes sensitivity to ivermectin (and other drugs). if you dog is MDR-1 positive there are alternatives, personally i use Bravecto to treat Demodex in all dogs, it's very effective and works better than ivermectin in my experience, it is also safer than ivermectin.

I don't recommend you inject your dog with ivermectin unless directed by your vet. Ivermectin can be used to prevent heartworms and also treat mange but can cause serious side effects if used improperly.

Yes it is safe to use these medications together. Just make sure you are using the ivermectin dose for heartworms or better yet a pre made heartworm product with ivermectin (Heartgard or otherwise). I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If it was Heartgard, there is no cause for concern. It is an extremely safe product and very difficult to overdose. If it was a different preparation of ivermectin, a double dose may not be cause for concern unless your dog is sensitive to it or carries the MDR1 gene. Typically, a non sensitive dog requires dosing around 2000mcg/kg before clinical signs become apparent. See your vet for an exam as soon as you can if you are concerned. Bring the container of ivermectin with you. Treatment for ivermectin toxicity is supportive in nature. Monitor for vomiting, excess salivation, ataxia (wobbly gait), dilated pupils or tremors.