Heartworm Prevention

[ferreto]

Unfortunately, I work for a Western medicine veterinarian, so when I asked about what I could use to prevent heartworms, she said ivermectin/propylene glycol. What I'm worried about is the long-term effects of propylene glycol. Does anyone use this for heartworm prevention? I live in Texas, so we have a fair amount of heartworm cases, but I want to be able to take my ferretos outside and not be paranoid the whole time about mesquitos.

[Forum Administrator]

Check out this thread for our previous discussion on heartworm prevention:

holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=care&action=display&thread=285&page=1

The issues of heartworm prevention is a tricky one when it comes to ferrets. You arent the first owner to wrestle with the "do I use it or not?" "if I do use it which is the least harmful?"

Good luck with making a decision.

[tss]

With 4 dogs it would cost me $400 + for heartgard so I got ivermectin paste and it will be mixed 50/50 with propylene glycol. Even the ammount for a dog is very small, the ammount for a ferret probably wouldn't even be measureable.

The ammount of ivermectin in heartworm products are MUCH higher then what is needed, and it is really much better to dose it every 45 days instead of every 31.