Meningeal worm - ivermectin orally or injectible?

[mygoat]

Helped a local person draw blood yesterday. She had an absolutely gorgeous Togg doe that started itching her side to the point of a wound this summer, and acting lame... She's now completely down. Her rear right leg felt cold (but she was laying on it and cannot stand up) and non-responsive to my pinching. My first thought was Meningeal worm. I'm not convinced she'll get better at this point with the paralysis. She is otherwise 100% normal - eating, drinking, and curious/friendy. At ths point they're aware she probably will never be bred again but would like to make her comfortable/save her life if possible. They are taking great care of her and she is not in pain, but they understand quality of life etc.

I'm trying to look up the dose. I'm finding 1cc per 25lbs of Ivermectin Plus, followed by 5 days safeguard (liquid) at 2x the dose according to Onion creek Ranch.

My questions :

1. Ivermectin ORAL or injectible?

2. Safeguard at 3x the dose better? Or is 2x the dose good?

[CraterCove]

This is an exerp from Tennessee meat goats:

Treatment involves very high dosages of Ivomec Plus or generic equivalent. Ivermectin paste or pour-on are not effective. Ivomec Plus or generic equivalent is recommended because if snails or slugs are present, so may also be liver flukes, and Ivomec Plus will handle both conditions at the same time. Ivomec Plus should be given at a rate of 1 cc per 25 pounds bodyweight for at least seven days, followed by a double-the-cattle dosage of fenbendazole (Safeguard/ Panacur) for five days. (Jeffers carries both dewormers.) Dosing too low means that the deerworm continues to do damage. Enough medication needs to remain in the goat's system so that the blood-brain barrier can be crossed in order to kill the larvae that have already penetrated the spinal column. If the goat is down and can't get up on its own, the chance for recovery is not good. An anti-inflammatory drug like Banamine can be useful in alleviating the inflammation of nerve tissue. Dexamethosone should also be used if paralysis is present, dosing at approximately 8 cc per 100 lbs bodyweight and stepping down one cc per day. Dex should be given into the muscle (IM). If the sick goat is a pregnant doe, use the dexamethasone and let her abort, because she isn't likely to survive if she is trying to grow fetuses while fighting this disease. If the producer is concerned about using Dexamethasone and Banamine at the same time, then use the Dex and forget the Banamine. When symptoms are found in one goat, the producer should either treat the entire herd or watch everyone closely daily for symptoms and begin treatment immediately if discovered.


That's the best advice I've found on treating it. If she has too much nerve damage it's not likely she'll recover well. However, there could be swelling that is impacting nerve function and contributing to the paralysis and that can be reversed with the anti inflammatory meds.

[mygoat]

Yup, that's the article I was using. It says to use the injectible form of ivermectin, but is not clear wether or not it should be given orally or as the injectible. I told her give it as an injectible, under the assumption that's waht they'd mean - but questioned it because we give most dewormers orally including ivermectin for other worms.

[CraterCove]

Unless I am mistaken, and someone will correct me... it doesn't matter how you give it, I'd just assume that orally there is less chance of infection or abscess at a needle site.

Anyone else?