Ivermectin for Cancer in Dogs: Doses and Regimens


Dr Jones shares new research on the animal de-wormer Ivermectin, for cancer. Suggested doses and Cancer regimens are discussed.

24 thoughts on “Ivermectin for Cancer in Dogs: Doses and Regimens”

  1. I have a 5 1/2 lb toy yorkie who my veterinarian thinks could possibly have bladder cancer. It started with crystals in her bladder and PH was 7. By using Science Diet c/d, I’ve got it down to 6.5. and the crystals are gone. She has been on several antibiotics for uti’s, which i think has caused antibiotic resistance. She will be 14 on March 23, 2023 and is having frequent urination. He checked her blood for kidney function and it’s fine. She’s on hydrocodone for trachea prolapse which helps her rest. She’s eating, drinking and some days runs like a puppy. The test to check for bladder cancer is $300, which is very expensive for someone on disability. Is it possible to rub the ivermectin paste on her belly to see if it works? I’m willing to try anything at this point.

    1. Hi Jodi, it should be – 0.2mg / kg of body weight. The paste will of course be more volume than the injectable, the concentration (in mg/ml or by weight) will be on the tube.

  2. How about for an older male dog with polyps? He is a rescue and I am at least his fifth home according to shelter history. They just took a sample for biopsy today. He has suddenly lost about ten lbs.and is now 55lbs. Thank you!

    1. Current studies show Ivermectin to be beneficial for an array of cancers. There are no published animal doses for cancer, but it is used extensively in dogs/cats for parasites.

      Dog dose of 1mg (0.1cc) per 10lbs daily for a minimum 30 days and assess response.

      Contraindications/Precautions/Warnings

      Ivermectin is not recommended for use in puppies less than 6 weeks old. After receiving heartworm prophylaxis doses, the manufacturer recommends observing Collie-type breeds for at least 8 hours after administration. Most clinicians feel that ivermectin should not be used in breeds susceptible (Collies, Shelties, Australian shepherds, etc.) to the mdr1 gene mutation at the doses specified for treating microfilaria or other parasites unless the patient has been tested and found not to have the gene defect. A specific test for identifying dogs that have the gene defect (deletion mutation of the mdr1 gene) is available.

      Ivermectin is reportedly contraindicated in chelonian species.

      Adverse Effects

      Dogs may exhibit a shock-like reaction when ivermectin is used as a microfilaricide, presumably due to a reaction associated with the dying microfilaria. Other adverse effects when used as a microfilaricide include depression, hypothermia, and vomiting. Pretreatment with diphenhydramine (2 mg/kg IM) and dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg IV) can help prevent adverse reactions (Atkins 2005).

      Neurotoxicity is possible in dogs, particularly in those with the gene defect (deletion mutation of the mdr1 gene) that has been seen in certain genetic lines of Collie-type breeds.

      In mice and rats, ivermectin may cause neurologic toxicity at doses slightly more than usually prescribed (less than 0.5 mg/kg).

      In birds, death, lethargy or anorexia may be seen. Orange-cheeked Waxbill Finches and budgerigars may be more sensitive to ivermectin than other species.

      Drug Interactions

      The following drug interactions have either been reported or are theoretical in humans or animals receiving ivermectin and may be of significance in veterinary patients:

      Benzodiazepines: Effects may be potentiated by ivermectin; use together not advised in humans
      Caution is advised if using other drugs that can inhibit p-glycoprotein.
      Those dogs at risk for MDR1-allele mutation (Collies, Australian Shepherds, Shelties, Long-haired Whippet, etc., “white feet”) should probably not receive ivermectin with the following drugs, unless tested “normal”; drugs and drug classes involved include:

      Amiodarone
      Carvedilol
      Clarithromycin
      Cyclosporine
      Diltiazem
      Erythromycin
      Itraconazole
      Ketoconazole
      Quinidine
      Spironolactone
      Tamoxifen
      Verapamil

  3. 136lb Cane corso with ulna osteosarcoma ( no metastasis)..what is your recommended dose of oral ivermectin ?

    1. My elderly 13 y/o shih tzu/chihuahua mix (18 lbs) has prostate carcinoma, and we were able to get ivermectin prescribed thanks to sending our vet one of your videos! He prescribed .45 mL once per week orally…does this seem reasonable to be effective? He had to do some research to even get to that dosage. He also said to look out for neurological side effects like seizure…have you experienced this with other dogs? Thanks!

  4. Dr. Jones’ suggestion is 1mg (0.1cc) per 10lbs daily for a minimum 30 days and assess response. At 136lbs, that would be 13.6mg or 1.36cc.

  5. My dog mixed breed was diagnosed with mammary cancer it spread to her lymph nodes. She is a chihuahua mix
    Is this dosage correct? I noticed the video is older

  6. We have a 5 1/2-year-old male Golden Retriever who was just diagnosed with either mediastinal lymphoma or thymoma (unknown which one without CT scan/fine needle aspirate). Would ivermectin work for him? He has been raw-feed since 11 weeks old, and only vaxes were his first round of puppy shots. He has always been very healthy, and this came out of the blue. Help!!

    1. Here’s an article that will surely help:
      Cancer rates appear to be rising in our animals. I personally have had 2 dogs and 1 cat die of cancer… I have diagnosed WAY too many pets with Cancer.

      Omega 3 Fatty Acids are one of the few supplements documented to help support the immune system, and potentially prevent some of the cancers.

      I have many pet parents reporting this is helping their pet, and on a personal side I am now on them daily as well!

      If you have yet to try them, they are definitely worth a try… Dr Jones’ ULTIMATE Omega 3 Supplement for Dogs and Cats

      Here are some rather startling Cancer Facts – Canine Cancer affects one out of every three dogs. Of those, over half of them will die of cancer.

      80 million – the number of dogs in U.S.

      27 million- the number of dogs that will be diagnosed with cancer

      14 million – the number of dogs that will die of cancer in the U.S.

      Cancer is affecting way to many of our pets.

      One of the cancers I saw far too often in veterinary practice was Lymphoma- and still today chemotherapy can NOT cure this… .

      7 Alternative Cancer Treatments you may not be aware of

      1. Dandelion Root

      Dandelion root tea tincture, championed by an elderly leukemia patient, has sparked exciting cancer research at the University of Windsor.

      There have been multiple anti-carcinogens isolated from Dandelion Root.

      The home treatment involves purchasing dried dandelion root, grinding it in a coffee grinder, adding in teaspoon/20lbs of body weight to 1 cup of water, and simmering that for 20-30mins.

      Allow to cool and then this is given to your pet with cancer daily.

      If it is to help, most people see a response in 2 weeks.

      2 .Panacur for Cancer

      Joe Tippens story, cancer spread, no chance to live… a vet suggested taking fenbendazole… Joe was given NO chance to live, and was cleared of cancer in 4 weeks

      Since this has been published, other reports of people finding success with some types of cancer, and may also be able to help our dogs and cats with cancer

      There is research showing how fenbendazole destabilizes part of the cell walls of cancer cells leading to cell death.

      Doses for deworming 50mg/kg once daily for 3 days. Liquid is 100mg/ml concentration.

      Regimen for cancer is 50mg/kg once daily for 3 days on/ 4 days off.

      I would suggest trying it for a month to see if your pet will respond.

      Antioxidant/Flavonoid Supplement

      One study in animals found this was MORE effective when used with a supplement of antioxidants/flavonoids… likely better then to supplement at the same time with something like Dr Jones’ Ultimate Canine Advanced, or a mixed flavonoid supplement that includes to flavonoid from Green Tea, ECGC.

      3. Medical Marijuana: THC and CBD oil- natural anti-inflammatory, can help with cancer.

      When my Black Lab Lewis was dying of mouth cancer, he ONLY responded to CBD/THC tincture.

      I was able to get a 4:1 tincture- 4 parts CBD, 1 part THC. There has been extensive research showing positive benefits of THC and CBD for many of the common cancers. At the very least it is wonderful for pain control.

      Dose of 3mg/10lbs twice daily based on the CBD concentration.

      4. Medicinal Mushrooms

      Turkey Tail (Coriolus versicolor): studied for colon cancer in people, proven immune boosting. It has extensive research in Japan, and now is classified as a medicinal treatment for colorectal cancer. Few to no side effects, and works well in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs.

      Studies are showing a marked decrease in cancer recurrence for people that take Turkey Tail mushroom long term after cancer treatment.

      Dose of 100mg/10lbs daily.

      Reishi

      Other medicinal mushrooms are also VERY important, and IF your dog is to have Lymphoma, then you should be considering REISHI mushroom. Several studies have shown it to be the most beneficial medicinal mushroom for Lymphoma.

      The Reishi dose is 100mg/10lbs once-twice daily.

      5. Ivermectin for Cancer. Another animal dewormer that was highlighted as a potential treatment for COVID 19. Current studies showing it to be beneficial for an array of cancers. There are no published animal doses for cancer, but it is used extensively in dogs/cats for parasites.

      Dog dose of 1mg (.1cc) per 10lbs daily for a minimum 30 days and assess response.

      6. Melatonin for Cancer

      Several studies show clear benefits of the sleep hormone for most types of cancer. It is a powerful antioxidant, but also appears to modify some of the biochemical systems making the immune system more effective against cancer. It also works well in conjunction with chemotherapy/radiation/other treatments.

      Melatonin dose of 1mg/10llbs 1 hour before bed.

      7. Diet, specifically a type of fat SHOWN to be beneficial against Lymphoma

      Several studies show benefits of High protein, High fat, Low carbohydrate diets for animals with cancer. One very interesting study on dogs with cutaneous lymphoma showed 75% responding to High doses of Safflower Oil – it has the highest concentration of Linoleic Acid of any oil.

      I would suggest a home/raw diet of 50% protein/50% veggies (1 lb of animal protein/50lbs daily), then adding in the Safflower oil at 1 teaspoon/10lbs daily… the Safflower oil is actually quite tasty 🙂

  7. Hi,

    My Frenchie got a breast cancer. We don’t know if metastasis spread already (waiting for the biopsy). Dr. Jones mentioned a daily protocol and day 1,2,3…8,9,10…15,16,1. What would be the ideal protocol in our situation? Her lumps are growing and spreading very fast.
    Also, should we give a lower dose daily or higher dose 3 days on 4 days off with Fenbendazole?
    Thank you for any suggestions in advance!

  8. My dog was just diagnosed with osteosarcoma. I want to try ivermectin. I don’t want to put him thru chemo. Will ivermectin help him? Is it only effective in combination with chemo? If I do give him ivermectin, how much and how often? And what supplements do you think he should have? He’s 62.8 lbs and he’s a pit mix.

    I’ve only had my dog since June. I love him so much I don’t know what to equate it with. He’s had a rough life. He had giardia, a mass removed from his leg, and he was HW positive when I rescued him. We’ve been thru a lot. Can someone please answer my questions. I can’t accept the prognosis of his condition.

    Thank you in advance

    1. Yes Ivermectin can help and here’s an article for you:
      Bone Cancer was always one of those cancers that I neverwanted to diagnose in practice… no real good treatment options, and for most dogs it has already spread by the time it is diagnosed.

      So prevention is key. But what you feed your dog can play a big role in this.

      Most of us now know the benefits of supplementing our own, less than ideal diets… well the same thing applies to your dogs.

      Your dog on kibble is not getting as many beneficial nutrients that can help support their immune system, preventing serious disease in the first place.

      Our supplement, Ultimate Canine ADVANCED Health Formula, has a 10, 000% increase in probiotic levels, additional Antioxidants, 400% more Colostrum, 100% INCREASE in Essential Fatty Acids.

      You should see ALL the ways it can help your dog here:

      http://www.thedogsupplement.com/advanced%5D

      This is the X-ray of a dog with Bone Cancer:

      Osteosarcoma in Dogs

      This is bone cancer, common in medium- to large-breed dogs. The bones of the legs are most commonly affected. Most dogs first intermittently limp, then progressively limp more often as the tumor grows from the inside of the bone out. At that point you may see a swelling at the end of the bone, and it is firm and painful to touch.

      VETERINARY DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING. Your vet will perform blood tests, X-rays, and possible bone biopsy, although the X-rays are generally diagnostic.

      BISPHOSPHONATES. Bisphosphonates are used to treat osteoporosis and to help lower high calcium seen in certain types of cancer in people. The most common bisphosphonate is oral alendronate (Fosamax). In bone cancer, bisphosphonates can inhibit osteoclasts (cells that cause bone lysis), as well as directly kill bone cancer cells, and be a great source of pain control. If used, you need to discuss this with your veterinarian. The dose is 40 mg per day (large-breed dog) or 70 mg every other day.

      ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS: This can include previous treatments I have discussed for Canine Cancer including Dandelion Root Tea Tincture, Panacur, Turkey Tail Mushroom, Cannabidiol/THC, Melatonin and 95% Curcumin.

      Immunotherapy Study

      A new non profit called The Canine Cancer Alliance is seeing some promising results with a new form of immunotherapy against dogs with Bone Cancer (osteosarcoma).

      They are located in Washington State, and currently accepting dogs with Osteosarcoma as part of the study.

      EGFR/HER2 Vaccine Study

      A new cancer immunotherapyis available for dogs with tumors associated with EGFR/HER2 overexpression

      Potential benefits of cancer immunotherapy for pups

      * May stop or slow recurrence and spreading of cancer

      * May help when surgery is not possible, or if chemotherapy doesn’t work

      * May reverse cancer metastasis

      How does it work?

      Safely activates the immune system against cancer cells that are over-expressing EGFR and HER2 proteins.

      The vaccine has already been given to over 600 dogs. Minimum side effect reported.

      May help with many different cancer types. Preliminary data for osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma published.

      Limitations and challenges

      Today’s immunotherapy cannot guarantee every dog will become a long-term survivor.

      Researchers are investigating different ways to safely enhance the efficacy and increase the number of responders.

      Study Locations

      Bridge Animal Referral Center (BARC) in Edmonds WA is now enrolling patients in the study. Please contact the clinic to inquire about the enrollment criteria and to make an appointment.

      Call (425) 697-2272

      Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Pullman WA is enrolling patients with osteosarcoma.

      The treatment option includes VAX + Radiation therapy.

      Call (509) 335-0711

      Contact info@ccralliance.org if you have any questions.

  9. Hello. When you say treat day 1,2,3 then 8,9,10 then 15,16,17. Then you say repeat in 21 days. Does that mean after day 17 take 21 days off? Thanks so much

  10. Hi, 20 lb Jack mix diagnosed with mast cell tumor on his penis. They want to remove the entire thing, then chemo. He is 12 and I just can’t have them remove it. Do you think Ivermectin will work for him? I’ve tried herbals, acupuncture and now on steroids and Benadryl but it is still growing. Please ?

    1. Yes, Ivermectin alone is effective and here’s the dose of 1mg (0.1cc) per 10lbs daily for a minimum 30 days and assess response.

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