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| Author |
Message |
    
Betty (Xamier)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2001 - 11:12 pm: |   |
Hey Dr.O
I keep hearing persistent rumors of horses being overly sensitive to Quest. This is part of a message that was recently sent to me. I requested the documentation and haven't heard back yet, but this is a pretty scary message and I am wondering if you are aware of any problems with this product when used at or near (who know how accurate weight tapes are) the recommended dose?
"I have been told it's not so much the potential
overdosing of Quest that is the problem but the
sensitivity of some horses to Quest. As one vet told
me the problem is that it is too effective (read very
strong stuff in layman's terms). This can cause toxic
reactions that, in some documented cases, has resulted
in death. Depending on the immune system of your horse
the toxicity can take several doses over the worming
schedule before it shows up. I know of a horse that
died with in 3 days of worming with Quest that had
been wormed with Quest successfully 2 prior times. "
Betty |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 11, 2001 - 11:17 am: | |
Hello Betty,
Using the most recent and most conservative parameters I can find, I get the following calculations: Appx. 100,000 horses died in the US in 1997. If we assume they were all wormed every 3 months (90 days) then just by coincidence 1111 died the day they were dewormed, 2222 by the second day, 3333 by the third day... I point out these numbers may be a lot larger if we included the death rate of horses over 20 years and under 6 months in the figuring.
I know of no cases where the product was used in a healthy horse at up to five times the correct dosage, that resulted in death due to dewormer toxicity. But I continue to look. All of the toxicity studies were done at much higher doses repeated much more frequently than the recommended treatment levels and intervals. I have included these studies from the FDA approval process in a new document at: Medications: Dewormers: Quest.
We had the same thing happen when ivermectin first came out over 30 years ago and I personally know of two people who tried to sue MSDAGVET over the product in the early eighties. I am thankful that reason took hold and the product was not removed.
I will continue to monitor the literature over this issue. Our clinic has now given over a thousand doses without a single reaction we are aware of.
DrO |
Betty (Xamier)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 11, 2001 - 10:06 am: | |
Thanks Dr.O
Your message is reassuring  I have been using the product myself and never had a problem but these rumors can become worrying.
You mentioned that with healthy horses there has never been a problem. Do you know of any documented cases in which this product caused a reaction in a debilitated horse?
For example, if one had a thin horse that had been rescued, with an unknown worming history and a heavy worm load, would this be a safe product.
Betty |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Wednesday, Apr 11, 2001 - 11:30 am: | |
Sorry for the confusion, I have edited the post above with a little more information Betty. Personally, I know of no horses that have died following use of this drug for any reason. The Fort Dodge Company has received reports of severe overdosing resulting in death in very small ( mainly minis) equids. The common reason for the overdosage was the dosage tube was not locked so a whole tube was given accidentally.
DrO |
Peter Hardie (Lastgues)
| | Posted on Saturday, Feb 23, 2002 - 7:17 am: | |
Have you yead this Article? this is one that may give rise to concern .Hope it helps the discussion.
http://www.equinenet.org/ernet/worms.html |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM (Dro)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Mar 5, 2002 - 10:13 am: | |
Hello Peter,
I think the article does an excellent job of stating the facts but then comes to incorrect conclusions. When dealing with as serious a problem as intestinal parasites and considering the nature (efficacy, resistance, etc..) of the non-Quest and non-ivermectin dewormers the 3 to 5 times published dosage safety factor becomes not only acceptable but desirable.
We do recommend care when dosing very small or debilitated animals (see article on Care: Deworming for details). When ivermectin first became available we saw the same type arguments.
DrO |
cindy mette
Member
Username: Cindylou
Post Number: 39
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 - 8:50 am: | |
I called the company directly and talked to them regarding the rumors. I work for a health care company and I know first hand what rumors -and only rumors can do to harm a company with a good product. Instead of listening to rumors- go to the source- they can tell exactly what has happened and what hasn't- I do not use this product-but not for fear of problems- my vet just likes the equimax product and daily strongid- and I am under the Prevticare program- which is very specific. Just my two cents! |
Jean Sheiness
Member
Username: Ladera
Post Number: 14
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Jun 13, 2004 - 1:45 pm: | |
I have used Quest for several years on a quarter horse and a warmblood. I have been warned not to use Quest. I have never had any problems with the product.
The quarter horse received only 3/4 of the tube. I never administered the full tube.
I do think that the problem with their product is the consumer. Medications are administerd based on weight. The consumer thinks that gving more will be better or would n't cause any harm.
I watch horse owners give heaping spoons of bute or heaping spoons of tucoprim and then they wonder why the bottle is empty or doesn't last the required course.
I have seen this phenomenon in the hospital. The consumer thinks more will cure the problem faster. Unfortunately giving more is lethal.
|
Sherri L. Hueser
Member
Username: Tangoh
Post Number: 435
Registered: 3-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 14, 2004 - 3:24 pm: | |
We have been using Quest in our deworming rotation program for a few years now. When we first researched it we heard / read all the rumors too. I believe the same rumors were running rampant when Ivermectin was new on the market. I believe Quest to be totally safe, but then this is only my opinion. We no longer hesitate to give it to any of our horses. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 10635
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004 - 10:35 am: | |
I have never known any new product that did not get such rumors if its use was widespread. The West Nile Virus vaccine is a good example and yes ivermectin, despite being one of the safest drugs known for horses also got such rumors. We have objective information on the toxicity of Quest (moxidectin) and almost all pharmecueticals given regularly to horses in the Medications section.
DrO |
