My vet in Thailand is advising 50 microgram vaccine of Ivermectin every 3 months for my Shih Tzu. Is it too much? Thoughts?

That is really going to depend on why the dog is being treated and how much he/she weighs. The petplace.com/drug-library/ivermectin-ivo... dosage information I found is: "For dogs: Dose is 0.0015 to 0.003 mg per pound (0.003 to 0.006 mg/kg) once a month for heartworm prevention; 0.15 mg per pound (0.3 mg/kg) once, then repeat in 14 days for skin parasites; and 0.1 mg per pound (0.2 mg/kg) once for gastrointestinal parasites. " With the average weight of a Shih Tzu being 9-16 pounds, I calculated the dog should be getting anywhere from .0135mg (13.5 micrograms) every month to 1.6mg (1600 micrograms) only ONCE.So, again I have to say that we need more information, namely why is the dog being treated and how much does it weigh?

As far as dose goes its hard to know with out knowing the actual brand name you are using as there are many Ivermectin based drugs which all vary in dose. This is a very potent drug and the philosophy varies on it. Some dogs particularly Collies can not take this drug due to a genetic issue.

There are severe side effects of longterm use, mainly Central Nervous System depression, so if you do do it I would be very closely monitoring your dog. Some Vets like to use it preventively even if there is no sign of parasites/worms while some vets will only use it if there are worms present and then stop using it when there is no sign of worms. You have to do what you feel is right, if it was my dog I would only use it until the worms are gone, as it is unsure if this drug can cross the blood brain barrier and cause long term neurological effects.

The full list of side effects are depression, lethargy, vomiting, convulsions, anorexia, ataxia, elu-species (in cat), hyperactivity, even death. There are long list of minor (less occurring) side effects. These include shaking, eye problem, slow heart action, tilting of head.

Some more hollistic approaches that have been in use for 100's of years include various herbal de-worming agents, the most effective and least toxic is black walnut extract, has been used in humans and horses and dogs for over a thousand years, it was the main deworming herb used by native americans, there are probably some other herbal remedies native to thailand. Also giving your dog lots of raw garlic during the day is one way to create an environment where parasites can not live. Garlic is on the top of the list for anti-parasitics.

If you do continue with the drug you must also include Milk Thistle to speed up repair of the damage this drug seems to cause on the liver. Basically if your animal seems depressed they are reacting poorly to this drug.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.