Ivermectin is an excellent drug. It gets/kills or protects against many parasites including most intestinal worms, heartworms, and mange. Many hunting dog owners use this drug. It does, however, carry some risks. First it should never be given for the first time if the dog is older than 6 months old without ascertaining wether the dog has heartworms or not. If a dog does, the Ivermectin can potentially be fatal to the dog at worst or cause a pneumocytic pneumonia at best. It should never be used blindly. The drug should also NEVER be used by a nonprofessional in many herding breeds, especially collies since they are extremely sensitive to this drug. Also realize that you can also overdose in any breed with Ivermectin, therefore you need to be certain of the correct dosages if using this drug.

If your dog is heartworm negative, Ivermectin, used monthly, can definitely be a cheap antiparasitic treatment.