We did heartworm tests today and everyone is negative! They have been taking the reduced dosage of Interceptor every 6 weeks for 18 months and no heartworms (or intestinal parasites for that matter). We are in Florida, heart of mosquito heaven, and we travel all over the area to dog shows/trials.

I have to admit I was slightly worried, but not anymore! I think all of the dogs seem much healthier with less chemicals in their system every month.

That's awesome, Katie. Now we need to get the word out to more people!

That is great to hear. I've used the Safeheart dosage of Interceptor for years, with negative tests, but I'm not in Florida -- that's heartworm central!! Up here in Chicago, our mosquitoes are seasonal.

Good to know, and great that the dogs are getting less of those chemicals and still getting the protection benefit.

That is really good news! Riley has not gotten heartworm medication yet and I was reading that any dog with any collie in them can only have Interceptor, not Ivermectin. I'm sure my vet would know that, but I've heard that many of them don't. I will look into the low dosage one. I really hate putting chemicals into or onto my dog. I don't like them for me either.

I do interceptor every 6 weeks, but I do the dose recommended. I've been thinking of doing the safeheart dose, but have been too nervous because here in Alabama, we're mosquito country, too.

I may give it a try, though. How do you determine the correct safedose to give?

http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/1365.htm

This is where I got it. They tested it but apparently never released it, I would assume due to lack of consumer interest. More is better in today's world!

I check for works every 6 mos, because we have no protection there, but the dose should be adequate for heartworms.

Also, it isn't just collies that are at risk for having the mutant gene - Aussies too.

Hi guys, can someone explain the low dose thing to me? I think I read something similar in Whole Dog Journal, but am wondering if it's something else.

My dog is always on the lighter end of a weight-based dosage (46-50lb - things are usually labeled: "50-150lb" or in a similarly ridiculous range ), and really *hated* to have to administer the amounts suitable for dogs so much bigger. On a related note, I'm a small person and also *hate* taking medicine (in rare occasions -- like the Pill or BC Patch! ) that is based on bodies twice my size. Apologies for the venting...

In any case, I would love it if someone could elaborate on the "low dose" administration!

Thank you!

Here-- I wrote this up for something else-- if you quote it, cite me as the source, thanks.

"I learned that in 1998, Novartis, the same company that manufactured Interceptor®, obtained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for another heartworm preventive, named SafeHeart. The active ingredient in SafeHeart was the same as the active ingredient in Interceptor: milbemycin oxime. But while the dose of milbemycin oxime in Interceptor was 0.25 mg per pound of body weight, the dose in SafeHeart was one-fifth of that, 0.05 mg per pound of body weight. With significantly less of the pesticide, SafeHeart had been approved by the FDA for use in prevention of heartworm disease in dogs and puppies four weeks of age or greater and two pounds of body weight or greater.

"I decided to give [my dogs] a lower dose of Interceptor, a dose that would give them the SafeHeart dose of milbemycin oxime. At first I did this by cutting the tablets into quarters, but further reading persuaded me that doing that did not assure me that they were getting enough of the active ingredient, since I couldn’t assume that it was distributed evenly throughout the tablet. Instead, I chose to buy the lower-dose Interceptor tablets, the ones formulated for dogs of less body weight than my Shelties. In that way, they received enough milbemycin oxime to eliminate the tissue stage of heartworm larvae, but not so much that they had five times the necessary dosage."

That help?

Connie to the rescue, once again. Thanks so much!
-MP

Connie,

If I am understanding this correctly, would this mean that it would work to give my two dogs (one at 105lbs and the other 98lbs) the 21-50lb dosage of Interceptor?
Additionally, would you recommend that I still give Milk Thistle a week before and a week after, as well as offering the medication on about a 40 day rotation, as opposed to 30 day at this reduced dosage?

We live in Oregon, a relatively low-risk area, but we do visit the coast often where risk increases greatly.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Amy

Amy, check the dose of milbemycin oxime on the 21-50 lb. tablets and if there is at least 5 mg in the dose, then yes, that will be the dosage that the FDA approved in the SafeHeart pills to control heartworm. It won't control other intestinal worms, though (which is not a big consideration for many people, but this is an obligatory disclaimer ).

I definitely would recommend milk thistle for 10 days to two weeks after; I suppose you could give it before, but it's really most important, IMO, that the liver have the help of m/t when it's dealing with the heartworm meds.

My 35 and 40-pound Shelties have taken the Interceptor tablets for 10-pound dogs, which tickles me -- it's like me wearing some item of clothing in a size 2, you know? LOL!

Thanks very much for your help!

OK so Zoe is 10 lbs., sometimes 11. The vet had given her the green box for 11-20 lb. dogs just in case she was weighing 11. I am going to a new vet this May. Should I ask for the one for up to 10 lb? I also have to make sure this vet will give interceptor since they normally do Heartguard.

You have to find a vet that will agree to it. Many will not. The same doesn't hold true (or at least I don't know of the research) for Heartgard, so you would need to get Interceptor. Also, bring some sort of documentation with you (maybe Connie's article). And your dog would take the 0-10 because it doesn't come any smaller and the pills aren't scored. My Westie is on that size (he's 17 lbs) and that's more than he really needs.

Here is the FDA approval info for SafeHeart; this would be what I would show a vet if I had to explain my reasons for dosing at less than the Interceptor recommendations: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/1365.htm

My vet is cool with the SafeHeart dose when clients request it, but he does not suggest it on his own. I would be annoyed but not particularly surprised by a vet who chose to argue with the FDA approval info ...

Thanks for posting that, Connie - I was just about to dig it up.

It's in one of Colliewog's posts earlier in this thread too.

Stacy, if you have a dog who is right on the dividing line weight-wise between one dose and another of Interceptor, you absolutely have the right to request the lower dose. I would *really* hope that a vet would not choose to argue about that. Do you have a choice of veterinary clinics in your area? It's always wise to shop around for goods and services, and veterinary care is a service ...

I am switching to this new vet because from what I have heard, I like him. He is closer to my house (my old vet I only went to one time when I first got Zoe in May, so I have no allegiance to them or problems with them, but just researched someplace where I am now instead of 20 min. away). This vet also SELLS INNOVA which was a major plus. He is significantly less expensive on everything I have questioned than everyone else. Also, he has a lot of experience and a lot of dachshund customers and also teaches classes at the local community college in regards to animal health, etc. So, I am going to take her there in May for her annual appt. Aside from getting food from them once, the vet took the time to call me and talk to me for 20 min. when I was concerned about Zoe's eating habbits changed. So, hopefully he will be good. I just need to make sure he'll do interceptor. If not, I will go to another local place people have recommended.

"definitely would recommend milk thistle for 10 days to two weeks after; I suppose you could give it before, but it's really most important, IMO, that the liver have the help of m/t when it's dealing with the heartworm meds.
My 35 and 40-pound Shelties"


My guy is in the same weight range - how much Milk Thistle do you give Connie?

Thanks -

Katie, thanks for posting. I've been so worried about the dosing. I still give a little more than Safeheart, but I'm paranoid. I asked my Vet (she has a mastiff too). She doesn't use the SH dosage, but she did know about it. So, I just asked for Interceptor and did it on my own.

IIRC, I gave 175 mg/da to each dog back when I was giving the chemical heartworm preventives.

Here's a link to Dr. Jean Dodds' recommended doses for milk thistle, this might help:
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/milk_thistle.htm

The original post is two years old. Where can I go for further information on Safeheart? I have a dog who is sensitive to milbemycin oxime (guess who), so everyone here is on ivermectin. Is there a similar plan for a safe low dosage for ivermectin? None of my dogs or rescues has the MDR1-delta mutation.

You have done the testing for the MDR1 testing?

I am not aware of the mdr1--'delta' mutations..but I am aware of the multi-drug resistance gene?

I know of a gal that is doing and has done loads of research for aussies in regards to ivermectin, mdr1, and interceptor. I can see if I can get ahold of her for you?

MDR1-delta is the name of the mutated allele that can be found on the MDR locus. As you know, it's a simple, single locus trait that is inherited recessively. So, a dog can inherit a pair of the alleles (making him mutant/mutant and putting him in the highest risk group for drug sensitivity), a single mutant allele (normal/mutant, which creates some problems but not as severe as dogs homozygous for the trait), or a dog can inherit only normal alleles. This is the status of most dogs.

It's a really easy test to do - you just request the kit and they send you a couple of cheek swabs - sort of pipe cleaner looking thingies. You swirl the pipe cleaner thingie in your dog's cheek, and follow the instructions to pop it back in the mail to the lab. No need to go to the vet or anything. A couple weeks later you'll get your results, complete with implications and instructions that you can have your vet copy and put in your dog's file.

If your friend has any information on safe doses for ivermectin I'd appreciate it!

I do Interceptor the first year with my puppies, so I'll be also interested in Interceptor information.

I know about the alleles and how dogs inherit the genes but in conversations we have not refered to it as delta. Yes I know about the testing and the drugs ..the effects..as I have dogs that are mutant. They wear medical alert tags as well.

We have had a dog in our rescue that died after have a seriously scary reaction..hence which is why have created the busteralert.org website and progam.

I will see what I can do to get in contact with her..as she have been sadly very ill lately.

Where do you get the test kit? Is there a website? That's something I should know about my dogs.

Here is one website about the drug list..this site has some good info and links.


http://www.busteralert.org/

this is the link to order
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/

My dogs wear the tags.