12/09/2024
IVERMECTIN TOXICITY IN DOGS
Meet Oliver Lotter! Oliver is being highlighted today to remind us all of an important concern regarding Ivermectin dewormer.
Oliver is an australian shepherd owned by Maria Lotter, a client of Bend Equine. Maria recently performed her routine Spring deworming to her horses with an Ivermectin product. The following day, Oliver began showing signs of neurologic disease (unable to rise, drooling, panting, urinary incontinence, blindness). Maria rushed him to the Animal Emergency Center in Bend where they diagnosed him with Ivermectin Toxicity. Oliver spent 7 days in the intensive care unit and is now recovering at home. He is still not back to his normal self and his veterinarian believes it could take another couple of weeks to return to normal.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?
1. Certain dog breeds have a gene mutation that causes them to be prone to Ivermectin Toxicity. These breeds include but are not limited to collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, English shepherds, and Old English sheep dogs. A test is now available through Washington State University to determine if dogs have the gene that causes Ivermectin sensitivity.
2. Dogs can be exposed to Ivermectin after eating horse's manure that have been treated with Ivermectin. Horses pass the Ivermectin treated f***s for 9 hours to 11 days after being treated.
3. Onset of clinical signs of toxicity in the dog occurs 4-12 hours after exposure. Signs include: depression, disorientation, vocalization, stupor, ataxia, tremors, vomiting, not eating, unable to rise, blindness, seizures, coma, and death.
It is very important that you keep dogs out of the area while horses are being dewormed with Ivermectin or moxidectin (Quest) to prevent accidental exposure of sensitive dogs to spilled product and, as shown above, exposure of dogs that eat horse manure even up to 11 days after deworming. Oliver was very lucky to have a diligent owner that noticed the toxicity quickly and to have had excellent care at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Bend. We all wish him a speedy recovery!
