Please Don’t Take Your Horses Dewormer to Treat COVID-19
Earlier this year, researchers in Australia published their findings of the potential effects of ivermectin on SARS-Cov-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The drug proved to kill the virus in a laboratory setting. However, in yet another instance of viral content gone wrong, that single study on a common horse deworming drug led to many horse owners mistakenly believing they could self-medicate if they got COVID-19. Our team here at Equis Save Foundation wants to make sure that horse owners do not take their horse’s dewormer medication to treat COVID-19. Below we lay out a few facts from the study.
One Test Result Doesn’t Equal the Cure
The study was conducted in a lab, under controlled and ideal conditions, using a petri dish. Otherwise known as in vitro, the results from these types of experiments have not been tested on living creatures (in vivo).
If a drug shows promise, it moves to the in vivo stage of testing and development. In many cases, a substance that’s effective in the lab is worthless in real life.
To be approved by the FDA for human consumption – the horse dewormer, ivermectin – would need to be run through a gauntlet of clinical trials. It could be months or years before ivermectin becomes a viable treatment.
Ivermectin Isn’t for Human Use to treat COVID-19
All medications – human and/or otherwise – have been designed for a specific purpose and that purpose only. Moreover, medical professionals would never recommend animal medication to treat human ailments.
Previous in vivo tests of ivermectin has not shown the drug to be safe for human use.
The concentration of ivermectin found in common horse dewormer was found to be particularly unsafe in human trials. Although the drug is used in smaller amounts to treat parasites in domestic animals such as sheep, goats, and dogs, there’s no known safe level of the drug when applied to humans.
Veterinarians advice
If you are still having doubts about the study, go ahead and ask your veterinarian or a doctor if it’s ok for you to take ivermectin. Chances are very likely that they’ll agree with the study and urge you not to take your horse’s dewormer medication. Our professional team at Equis Save Foundation are urging people not to take ivermectin if you think you’ve contracted COVID-19. Do the sensible thing and make a beeline for the local hospital and seek professional medical attention.
