Ivermectin and collie breeds help please

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I'm going to double post this to the pet forum but wanted to put it here so it might be seen sooner.

While doing chores last night (about ten pm), the tube of IverCare that I was going to use to worm a newly freshened doe fell off the shelf, and my pup got it and chewed on it before I saw her. She's mostly English Shepherd (a collie breed) and a little Rough Collie, about ten months old, and weighs probably 45 pounds.

About three am, I heard her scrabbling in her crate at the foot of my bed, checked on her, found she'd vomited and was having muscle spasms so bad she could hardly stand. She managed to walk out of the crate, collapsed, and has been getting steadily worse. She's at the vet's now -- I took her there as soon as they opened -- but I'm wondering if anyone can tell me anything about the treatment or the prognosis. She was still at least semi-conscious when I got her in to the vet's, enough to be distressed at leaving me. But definitely not in good shape. I am so worried -- I didn't realize how much I love that little pup until I was sitting with her waiting for the vet to call back (I tried to call about 3:30, got her answering service and they left messages on the Doc's pager, but I think she was out on a large animal call), and wondering if I was going to lose her. I'm still wondering and feel sick but there's nothing I can do but pray, and hope the vet can fix it.

Kathleen

[TedH71]

Apparently one of the collie dogs from way back had an genetic allergy to Ivomec and that dog was a very well-known stud dog that was used alot on females. Ever since, collies that have his genetic markers have had an allergy to Ivomec. I believe you can screen for it when you buy a pup. Sorry to hear that happened to you.

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Thank you, Ted -- that much I did know. But since I knew to never give my dogs ivermectin, I've never done any research on the treatment for it, or the prognosis. I won't get a chance to ask the vet any questions today, as she's got farm calls all day -- she's one of only two large animal vets in town, and I was lucky to catch her in this morning (and glad, as I haven't used any of the other vets in town so don't know if they would have taken Bonnnie).

Kathleen

[GoldenMom]

Originally Posted by TedH71

Apparently one of the collie dogs from way back had an genetic allergy to Ivomec and that dog was a very well-known stud dog that was used alot on females. Ever since, collies that have his genetic markers have had an allergy to Ivomec. I believe you can screen for it when you buy a pup. Sorry to hear that happened to you.

ANY dog (collie or not) can ingest enough ivermectin to cause toxicity (it's just much less for a dog with the genetic mutation). It's not an allergy-it's a problem with the blood brain barrier allowing too much ivermectin across (that's why "normal" dogs can also be affected by ivermectin if they get too much).

I hope my post in the pet forum gives you some of the information you are looking for.