Ivomec

Kimo is taking Ivomec (a brand name for ivermectin) for his mange. I was wondering if I could get it cheaper somewhere else besides from the vet. Evidently you can, but it's not recommended.

[1/27/09] I noticed in Coco The Blogging Dog that the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club includes pets. I looked and unfortunately didn't see ivermectin on the list.

[4/1/10] ProMeris is mentioned as an alternative treatment to ivermectin for mange.

[12/9/10] Dr. Fox on mange: Sarcoptic mange is treatable with dips and a drug called Ivermectin. The veterinarian can take skin scrapings to check for mange parasites that burrow into the dog’s skin. The other type of mange called Demodex is more difficult to treat, causes hair loss and thickening of the skin, and is aggravated by stress in young, growing animals who become infested from their mothers while nursing and may show no symptoms until stressed later in life.

I found this interesting because Kimo's vet said his condition could be triggered by stress which is Demodex. But he's being treated by Ivomec which is for sarcoptic.

However another site says ivermectin produces excellent results with red mange (demodicoses) though it's actually not approved for treating mange.

This site confirms that ivermectin is the treatment of choice for demodectic mange. Makes me wonder about Dr. Fox..

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[6/22/11] I wonder if I can save money and by the ivomec commercially? Well, here's what the marvistavet site (linked above) says:

WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUY LARGE ANIMAL FORMULATIONS OF IVERMECTIN (SUCH AS IVOMEC®) THROUGH CATALOGS, WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE THIS PRACTICE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL TO EASILY GIVE A TOXIC DOSE IF THE PRODUCT IS INCORRECTLY USED.

LARGE ANIMAL FORMULATIONS ARE MUCH MORE CONCENTRATED AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE A DOSE APPROPRIATELY FOR A SMALL ANIMAL ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS ATTEMPTING TO MEASURE A DOSE APPROPRIATE FOR HEARTWORM PREVENTION.

THERE IS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS IF IVERMECTIN IS INAPPROPRIATELY DOSED.