Seizures and Heartworm Medications in Shelties
Thank goodness seizures in Shelties is not a common problem. However, as responsible Sheltie owners, we should be aware of the things that can CAUSE seizures in Shelties:
- Sudden high fever.
- Certain illnesses.
- The ingredient in some Heartworm Medications.
If you own a Sheltie, you probably know by now that this is a very sensitive breed. Things that wouldn’t normally affect most dogs can affect a Sheltie. Ivermectin, the ingredient in Heartguard is one of those things that MAY cause seizures in a Sheltie.
Heartguard is a wonderful and very effective product that has saved countless dogs from getting heartworm. However some Shelties and Collies react very adversely to Heartguard. If you are using Heartguard and you notice your Sheltie having seizure(s) every month, this may be the culprit.
If your Sheltie’s seizures are caused by the Ivermectin in Heartguard, most often switching to a different Heartworm Preventative will solve the problem. Intercepter or Sentinal are both good alternatives.
Heartworm Preventative is VITAL in protecting your Sheltie from a deadly heartworm infestation, and should not be discontinued under any circumstances. If you suspect your Sheltie may be experiencing monthly seizures that coincide with your monthly heartworm pill, please talk to your vet and ask him/her to work with you on checking out this possibility.
It is also important to note that several years ago, the formula in Heartguard was changed and relabeled as “now safe for Shelties and Collies”. And while the new formula did help matters considerably, Shelties still CAN react to it.
To be sure if ivermectin is safe for your Sheltie, you can now have them DNA tested. This simple test can tell you if your Sheltie or Collie carries the gene that would cause the reaction. You can learn more about the test by visiting the Washington State University website.
The information on this page is solely intended to help owners who are struggling with seizures in their Shelties. It is NOT intended in any way to discourage the use of Heartguard in other dog breeds, or in Shelties who are not having seizures. (If your Sheltie has been using Heartguard and has not had a problem with seizures, there is no reason to switch medications. Trevor used it every month without a problem. However, our new puppy Teddy did have a mild reaction, so he will no longer get ivermectin drugs.)
Thanks again to Angie of the All Shelties store for the use of little Shelby’s photo!
thanks for the info
The MDR1 mutation in Shelties, collies, Aussies, and many other related breeds is the cause of the ivermectin sensitivity. Here are two good sites for more information:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-VCPL/
and
http://www.busteralert.org/
The first has links to tell you how to get your dog tested. The second gives a more extensive list of substances to which MDR1-mutant dogs may be more sensitive.
Thanks for the info! It is good for all sheltie owners to be aware of these sensitivities, vets are not always aware of this. I have had more than one vet try to prescribe Heartguard for my Shelties. We use Interceptor, I stay with the tried and true. PS, cute dog holding the sign … my little Shelby :)
My little sheltie has Seizures and we go to the et but it cost hundredes of dollars to test her what should we do?
Epilepsy actually is quite common in Shelties. While epilepsy can affect a dog of any breed or mix, there are some breeds that have a higher disposition towards it. Shelties are one such breed.
For more seizure FAQs, see:
http://sheltie-hair.blogspot.com/2008/09/canine-epilepsy-seizure-faqs.html
If your sheltie is having seizures and not responding to seizure meds, please read the following.
Last summer my 2 year old sable female sheltie was running outside with my neighbors large dog when all of a sudden, she came running back to the house screaming and ran head first into the storm door. I brought her inside where she continued screaming and running around & urinating. I held her and calmed her down and she seemed fine until the following night when she suddenly ran up to me screaming again and pooped & urinated on the floor. The following morning I took her to the vet and told her what had happened. They did x-rays and other tests and told me that nothing was broken and that she probably had epilepsy. I was given an epilepsy pill to give to her twice a day. For the next 2 weeks she progressively got worse. It got to the point where she would go into a seizure and I would hold her until she fell asleep but as soon as she woke up, she would go into another seizure. I called the vet and was told to give the meds more time. After another week of constant seizures, I called the vet again and was told that she may have to be put to sleep. I refused to accept this and started doing some research online where I saw that a woman had brought her dog to a chiropractor and was cured of the seizures. So I found a chiropractor in a nearby town and made an appointment and stopped at my regular vet on the way to pick up her x-rays. The chiropractor showed me in the x-rays where the neck bone was crooked and was also shoved into her skull which probably happened when she ran into the door. After only 4 adjustments, she was back to normal and has not had a seizure since. I cringe to think of all the dogs that may have been put to sleep because of seizures when a chiropractor could have saved them and this is why I feel the need to tell my story. Hopefully my story will be found by someone like me who is desperately looking for an answer.
Thank God you found the real problem before you had to go through the heartbreak of putting her to sleep. Hope she is doing good.