Hydatids drug harms! only 2 p.c. of dogs

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 12

Hydatids drug harms! only 2 p.c. of dogs

Only a “very small’ • ion of pet dogs would react severely tc the drug Mansonil in six-weekly dosing for hydatids control, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ superintendent of hydatids control (Mr George Thompson). Some veterinarians claim to have seen a greater number of undiagnosed illnesses

’[since the drug was intro- ; duced. The matter is irapor- . tant to Christchurch pet! ’ owners, whose dogs must be 1 dosed every six weeks with I " Mansonil after April if theyv • are not willing to sign cer- ! f-tificates carried when their- . dogs are taken into rural, * areas. _ But Mr Thompson said that; " dogs which react badly can’ be dosed with an alternative, drug if they require six-, 1 weekly dosing. “There could be anything > up to 80,000 to 90.000 dogs, that have had 25 six-weekly, treatments,” Mr Thompson; [said, “generally without any, 'effect on their health what- ; soever. I “Looking at things broadly, jit is a very safe drug.” In a larger proportion of , working or pet dogs, however —perhaps 2 per cent—- ■ there can be some vomiting [or loose bowel action after ia Mansonil dosing. “This we still regard as i unimportant, though regrettable,” Mr Thompson said.

“It may be distressing to the dog owner and the dog.” Pet dogs which suffered the temporary after-effects [should be confined outside the house for several hours after treatment. Further Mansonil treatments were not recommended [when there was a more prolonged reaction. Other drugs ■ could be used with no harmful side effects. , There had been suggestions that Mansonil could interfere with normal breedring cycles of bitches, cause [deafness, lead to blindness [“and Lord knows what else.” [Mr Thompson said. “Frankly, there has been no evidence to support such claims. “I think if we went around and dosed all the dogs with sugar candy, we would still get some complaints.” When dogs appeared to! react abnormally, the hydatids control officer should be! informed. Then, with a veterinarian’s advice, alternative dosing drugs could be found.