IVERMECTIN half life mentioned may be for humans, but as a pharmaceutical chemist who makes these kind of things I can tell you the half life is longer, much longer 2-5 days in other species of mammals. Birds also have a longer 1/2 life but can be overdosed more easily than mammals. The administration also counts a lot, as oral has a much shorter half life than pour on which can have a half life of 2+ weeks. This is not 6 months, but will carry out for a while if dosed properly. Ivermectin is a preventative treatment your vet prescribes every day to prevent parasites on the dogs so I don't know how they are shaking their heads...Immiticide is the heartworm cure and the meds given monthly are the preventative. When talking of wormers as a preventative, the 2nd worming is more preventative, as it is targeting worms that are just hatching and not yet reproductive. DM worms his peachicks to prevent adult worms from becoming a problem, i.e. preventing a worm infestation and breaking the cycle of getting worms and having eggs dropped all over the pen in fecal matter for chicks. DM is mentioning the beginning life cycle stage, so the bird does not have to have worms to get eggs and this is what he said he was targeting, eggs as soon as they hatch out. The eggs could have been ingested by the bird through intermediate hosts or in fecal matter. This I would consider preventative use of the meds as there is not yet a positive for worms but rather ensuring they do not become positive. Now for breeders, who are more immune (tolerant may be a better word) to worms we worm 3 times a year at least and sometimes more. We consider this preventative as it kills any worms some may have, breaks the cycle and helps birds who do not have worms by way of less eggs being ingested through fecal matter in the pens as the birds pick around. If you can tell your bird has worms, you have problems and then I believe it is an indicated treatment. Peafowl generally don't show illness until they are in pretty bad shape.
Everyone look at it this way, it all depends on how its used....If I am diabetic and take insulin before eating a big desert, am I preventing a diabetic coma? Yes, preventative use, could also be termed maintenance use. If I don't and eat the desert, get sick and then take the insulin, it is an indicated use to treat the current symptom. Just how you look at it. If someone worms regularly then it is preventative, not for cause. If someone worms only through seeing a sick or withering bird then it is for cause and curative in nature.
Quote:
