|
Give ONLY INTERCEPTOR
for Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm prevention is easy. Give an Interceptor tablet once a month. Ask your vet if Interceptor needs to be given 12 months out of the year, or from spring to fall (normally, April to November). More and more vets recommend giving it year-round.
Interceptor is the ONLY safe heartworm prevention medication for collies, collie-mixes, shelties and sheltie-mixes. This is because Interceptor does not contain the drug Ivermectin.
Heartguard, which is another heartworm medicine, does contain Ivermectin. NEVER GIVE HEARTGUARD. Between 30-50 percent of collies have a deadly reaction when given Ivermectin. Susceptible collies can't metablilze Ivermectin, which allows the drug to reach toxic levels in the brain. Shelties have been known to have seizures after taking Heartguard. Hence the adage commonly used by vets: "White feet, don't treat." No Heartguard!
Why Can't Collies and Shelties Take Heartguard and Ivermectin?
In 2001 it was discovered by Katrina Mealey, DVM, with the Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine that drug sensitivities result from a mutation in the multi-drug resistance gene (MDR1). This gene encodes a protein, P-glycoprotein that is responsible for pumping many drugs and other toxins out of the brain. Dogs with the mutant gene cannot pump some drugs out of the brain as a normal dog would, which may result in abnormal neurologic signs. The result may be an illness requiring an extended hospital stay - or even death.
Collies, shelties and a few other breeds have a mutation in their MDR1 gene, making certain medications extremely dangerous to them. Approximately three of every four collies have the mutant MDR1 gene. The MDR1 mutation has also been found in shelties, Australian shepherds, Old English sheepdogs, English shepherds, German shepherds, long-haired whippets, silken windhounds, and a variety of mixed breed dogs. The only way to know if an individual dog has the mutant MDR1 gene is to have the dog tested. As more dogs are tested, more breeds will probably be added to the list of affected breeds.
In addition, Ivermectin can make shelties already prone to epilepsy begin to have seizures. It is important to note that several years ago the formula in Heartguard was changed and relabeled as "now safe for shelties and collies." However, shelties still can react to it.
Because of MDR1 sensitivity, NEVER GIVE IMODIUM (loperamide) to your collie or sheltie.
If your vet won't prescribe Interceptor for your collie or shelties,
DO NOT accept this.
With your prescription, you can easily order Interceptor online.
You just need an Rx from your vet.
YOUR DOG'S HEALTH AND VERY LIFE COULD BE AT STAKE!
For more information from the Washington State University's College
of Veterinary Medicine about the MDR1 mutation,
go to www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-vcp.
See what other drugs are dangerous to collies, shelties and
Other breeds that carry the MDR genetic mutation
-- and be aware that studies show that
75 percent of collies
do have this mutation and are at risk!
This means that these drugs -- including Heartguard --
are a very serious health concern.
Go to www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/drugs.aspx
Pueblo Collie/Sheltie Rescue / Updated April 2010
Back to Adoption Info
|
|
