Dont let your dog near any horse wormer!

[wiggywoo]

If your dog goes with you to the stables please be very careful when you worm your horse.
I came home from work on Friday to find Molly, my usually over exuberant Labrador shaking and unable to see. I took her straight to the vet who recognised the symptoms of sudden blindness and muscle spasms as an effect of contact with horse wormer.
The vet explained that the ‘new’ super strong wormers work by affecting the neurological systems of the worms and that he had seen a few dogs who had ingested very small amounts of these wormers showing these terrible symptoms. Just licking the horses nose after you have syringed the wormer down or licking a feed bowl which has had wormer in it can be enough.
There is no antidote so the only thing to do was to take Molly home, try to keep her calm and wait.
After 24 hours the muscle spasms started to cease and Molly’s sight started to return.
I’m pleased to say that 48 hours later Molly was back to her usual self except for being very tired. There seems to be no lasting effects, however it was a very frightening experience for both Molly and myself.

The wormer we had used at the stables that day was Equest Pramox, but I believe that some of the other strong wormers may have the same affects.

[wobbles]

Yes have known for years that horse wormers can affect or even kill dogs and cats, we always put the empty syringes in a bag and straight into the car to be taken home to go out with the rubbish, I am so glad your dog has recovered

[Sharan]

I think it's the Ivermectin that is the worse.
Also grapes, raisins, onions and chocolate are a big danger to dogs too.

[dawnie]

AND Xylitol which is used in a lot of sugar free mints and gums, and apparently its doesnt take much to cause a serious problem.

"Watch for these symptoms.
After ingesting xylitol, dogs may begin to vomit and develop hypoglycemia within an hour. Some dogs will develop liver failure within 12 to 24 hours after xylitol ingestion. One reported case involved a 3-year-old dog that ate five or six cookies containing the sweetener. It became ill 24 hours later and died the next day. If your dog ingests xylitol call your veterinarian immediately.
Pet owners who use xylitol-sweetened products in their home need to be aware of its toxic effect on dogs. Please tell your friends and neighbors who own dogs. They need to ensure that their dogs do not get ahold of any of these products."