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Just a place for general discussion. A place to unload whats on your mind and talk about anything - personal, health, help needed, achievements, daily highs and daily lows, theories, predictions and what have you.
Does not need to be Q related.
Does anyone know if the horse paste form of IVM is safe for dogs and do you measure the same way? My dog has an issue with ongoing parasites, I think. Per the Vet, (and several hundred dollars of blood panels and x rays), no masses, no diabetes, no pancreatitis, nothing definitive from testing except very high eosinophils. Dog gets wormed every 3 months, religiously, for the common 4 worms with fenben (safeguard) but symptoms are fever off and on, higher than normal gas (in real life and on xray). He is lethargic when fever spikes but fine when he is 'cool' (hes 'hot' much more often than he is 'cool'). Eats and drinks well, stools slightly soft but he's been on antibiotic a couple weeks so stool issue probably due to that. No vomiting. No grains, mostly raw beef and home cooked chicken diet. Internet research says most likely parasites but the antibiotic Clavamox (2 weeks) doesnt seem to be kicking this issue. Also, he 'scoots' bottom on the floor but its not a gland issue. That's why the IVM question... Maybe it will catch parasites not covered by fenben. (Just a side note, I do have chickens free ranging.)
Hi, some breeds of dogs cannot take Ivermectin, among those are collies and other herding breeds. I have English Shepherds, they free range with chickens goats and sheep, and everyone tests negative for parasites. I do worm my livestock, but not my hens. In my opinion, you are worming a lot! What do his fecal samples show? Being on antibiotics can cause yeast issues, his butt may be truly itchy from that. Was he tested for Lyme? A little yogurt in his food while on antibiotics. There is a genetic mutation called MDR1 that shepherds, collies, and shepherd collie crosses have that make them sensitive. A little rice in his diet won't hurt. Dogs in the wild will eat intestinal matter when they kill, and in that is semi digested grains and vegetation. A pure meat diet needs some other stuff thrown in, carrots, berries, sweet potatos, etc. I would hold off on adding any other wormer right now, and too many doses of a wormer can make parasites immune. Ivermectin does not cure all parasites anyway, it does nothing for tapeworm (which can come from raw meats, fleas, rodents, etc.) It will not kill hookworm, which is in the blood. Good luck, I know I love my dogs and will spend more money on them than I do myself.
Thank you. Full Pekingese. Vet recommended 3 month worming schedule because I was only worming once or twice a year, just when he got 'gassy'. Hes been lethargic and off food in the past and vet dx parasites (whipworms I think) then put him on the schedule. Stool was clear at last check. Re diet, I do give him a commercial wet food about once a week for variety and for the 'other things' (added vitamins) he might be missing from an all meat diet. The wet food has to be an all meat thing else he wont touch it. No vegetables, he smells them then wont eat. He will go without food to the point of throwing up bile from not eating if I leave the veggie mixed food out there. I've tried yogurt, pumpkin etc. No dice.
MY THOUGHTS ON POTENTIAL EXPLANATIONS:
~ Pup could have an intestinal blockage or twisted bowel which will make him avoid bulky things like veggies and make him unwilling to eat in general. If not corrected, he will decline rapidly from dehydration and starvation. See if he will drink warm chicken broth alone or with pureed vegetables. Also try putting melted butter on any veggies and smoosh them into soft mashed potato-like consistency. This usually makes them much more enticing.
Has the Vet x-rayed or done an ultrasound to look for blockages or a twisted bowel?
~ Candida overgrowth from all the antibiotics. Candida causes digestive distress and also a very itchy bum that is relentless.
See if your Doctor will give you an Rx for a tube of this human medicine: Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide cream USP. This cream is priceless!
If you or your pup has a Candida overgrowth the itching bum will make you be unable to think of anything else. A tiny dot of this cream rubbed on the itchy part IMMEDIATELY quells and stops the itch. Use a saline-moistened Q-tip to apply a bit of the cream around and inside the rectum. The relief is almost instant. Repeat as needed and usually after about 3 days the issue is gone.
Nystatin is one of the only treatments for Candida.
Re: Ivermectin, he is a tiny dog. Look up dosages for dogs online, they are easily findable. If you choose to use this on him, don't force it down his throat, rub it on his skin and it will be absorbed. See:
https://www.cuteness.com/article/ivermectin-dosing-dogs
Thanks for your reply. X ray of abdomen showed all clear and normal with the bowel with no masses or anything unusual outside of heavy gas pockets. His stools are well formed and normal size. He eats well and drinks normal amounts. He is just not a food motivated dog. If he is not hungry at the time, even his favorite things wont appeal to him. Very picky but I will try the butter on veggies. He likes butter pretty well. Your thoughts on Candida are something that never occurred to me. Will pursue this avenue for sure. Appreciate your time and info.
No ivm for horses is too strong for dogs. If your dog has worms and an itchy bottom I'd be using a wormer with praziquantal in it . Iver won't eradicate some worms,it's why they add praziquantal to someone horse wormers with iver. The itchiness could also be caused by grass allergies if he's going out on the grass to do his business.Try mixing some alpha keri oil in some water or use coconut oil and sponge on the coat to stop the itching. One of my cavaliers gets itchy with grass pollens in summer and I sponge her coat after she been outside.
Thank you. I never thought about allergies. He is outside a fair amount as he accompanies me most everywhere I go. I will also look into the praziquantal wormer. The high eosinophils in blood work indicate possible parasites or it could mean a few more serious things that the vet believes she has ruled out. I just dont know enough about what all parasites could be out there besides the common 4 worms which should be taken care of by the usual methods. I kind of worry about a tick borne disease but that doesnt match up with the GI issue and temp. Thank you for your time.