Do you give heartworm medicine?

Do you give heartworm medicine?

  • Yes

    Votes: 44 89.8%

  • No

    Votes: 5 10.2%
  • Total voters
    49
I give heartworm medication April - November. I used Iverhart Max last year but this year after a couple motnths Riley started to vomit a couple hours after getting medicated. I switched to Sentinel and the first time using it went well. Hopefully it continues to go well when he gets his 2nd dose this weekend. He also gets Frontline May October.
 
Mom2Melli said:
Heartgard all year. We tested for MDR1
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I tried to explain the test (and reason for it) to hubby. He thinks it's "a scam', but says I can do it if I think it's necessary.

IF I opt not to do the test, what's the best choice for heartworm prevention?

Aren't there also some concerns for putting a dog under sedation if they are MDR1 positive? I'm leaning towards it being money well spent to know for sure.
 
W/O the test, Sentinel is a better choice. I didn't like that it has flea/tick stuff as I was doubling up on that on her then. Yes, putting them under is more of a concern. Online you can find the whole list of no-no drugs. You could ask the breeder if both parents tested normal. That would be a clue. I didn't do Melli since she has proven tolerant to many of those drugs but since Cubby is the first of the breeder's mating of those two I went with it. Much better to know in one so young. Find stats on what percentage of shelties are mutant/normal or mutant/mutant and then present numbers and odds. I am VERY glad I did it.
 
I do year round Heartgard heartworm, around every 5 weeks. Flea/tick, I stop around November and start up again in April.
 
I give heartworm every 6 weeks from april-dec. (remember heartworm reverse treats so its protecting for the previous 6weeks)

For those that dont treat just keep in mind in the end its cheaper to treat prevalently then to try to rid heartworm once its contracted.
 
Ann said:
This is a great article by Dr. Jean Dodds that gives the time frame for heartworm meds in every state in the country.

http://drjeandoddspethealthresource...3129/dodds-heartworm-preventives#.U9fOr7E5N-w
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Thanks for the link to the list!

We treat spring-late fall. According to the list Ann kindly posted a link to, we are in the May-Oct zone in Detroit, and 25 yrs ago, the old-school vet I worked for recommended treating warm weather months. But in the last 15 yrs or so, every vet we've seen has urged us to treat year-round. They are always slightly put off that I stick to my guns and treat part of the year. (Off-topic, why are the vet techs always upset at my 3 yr schedule for booster shots but the vets never bat an eye? The techs get downright cranky when I calmly tell them we won't be getting vax's today, just an exam & HW test/meds)

We do get HW tests every spring, and I've seen how hard HW treatment is compared to prevention, but I also know that in Michigan the chances of being bitten by a mosquito on December are similar to my chances of winning the Powerball (I don't play lottery so that's a hint to my chances :wink2:).

I remember when the HW preventative was a daily pill, boy have we come a long way with the monthly flavored tablets!
 
jomuir said:
(Off-topic, why are the vet techs always upset at my 3 yr schedule for booster shots but the vets never bat an eye? The techs get downright cranky when I calmly tell them we won't be getting vax's today, just an exam & HW test/meds)
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I think the vet techs get to do the dirty work; the vet wants to present a "nice" image. It's like the diener in an autopsy; he's the one who gets the nasty tasks, like "running the gut."

My last visit to the vet was anything but pleasant. I told them from the receptionist on down that I wasn't there to get Dickens any shots or tests; just a routine exam and a supply of Advantage Multi. I got so much grief and pressure from the tech that I ended up having to be sharp with her, and that got conveyed to the vet, and it poisoned the entire visit. I can see where lots of people end up getting unnecessary and even dangerous treatments because it's so very unpleasant having to fight a battle-royal every time you take your dog for an exam. And even though you may know you're in the right, the vet has the background and credentials to talk you down, and you really have no standing to parley with him.
 
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