Kongs and Heartworm medication

[nordi10]

G'day
I need some anwers please to 2 things .
What size Kong I should get for Jack ? He is a strong chewer.Red or black ,large or extra large?
The next question I have is about Heartmedication. Jack has been on "Heartgard" for 4 years now. I like to change to another brand which is cheaper and called "Pro Heart". Has anyone used "Pro Heart" or does anyone knows any pro's or con's about it?
There is also a 3rth heartproduct available here , "Revolution" , it's for fleas and mites as well , but Jack does not have any of these.
Greetings from downunder
Ron

 

[Aimee]

Hi Ron..we use the large red kongs with ours and they hold up nicely. We use Heartguard Plus on our crew and have had success with it. I haven't heard of Pro Heart. I would ask your veterinarian about it. Heartworm prevention is expensive but it is worth it. I recommend staying with a brand that will back its product and has years of proof that when given correctly prevents heartworms. Your vet will be able to give you the pros and cons on the different types available

 

[Krikkit]

Hi Ron, we use Heartguard. I have seen the ProHeart ad's on the shelves but do not know much about it (I'm very cautious about all medications until they have been around for many years).

We have four Boxers and four Knongs - two black extra large and one red large and one water Kong. All the Kongs have held up extremely well considering. I try to make sure Ruben gets the black Kong as he has been voted 'most likely to destroy the indestructable' in our family

Sharon

[Edited by Krikkit on 05-02-2001 at 02:36 AM]

 

[Bxrlvr]

I have heard that Pro Heart has been in use for over five years in Australia with not problems. All test from the UGA vet school show that there we no serious side effects to this new preventive. Lexi is getting her Pro Shot next week. The cost is about 35.00 every six months.

 

[SuzanneC]

We used Heartguard Plus on our dogs for years with good success. The efficacy rate of Heartguard is greater than 98%.

Last summer, we started the dogs on ProHeart 6. I like it, because it only has to be given every six months, and it guarantees that my dogs will get a checkup at least twice a year. My vet charges less for the shot than for a six month supply of Heartguard. ProHeart 6 has an efficacy rate of 99.9%, so it's even more effective at preventing heartworms than any of the oral heartworm preventatives. The drawback to the ProHeart shot is that it does nothing to prevent intestinal parasites, so your dog should be screened regularly for worms, etc. and treated as necessary. The only observed side effect of the shot is mild itching at the injection site, but none of my dogs have experienced it.

Revolution is not as popular as most other forms of heartworm preventative because it is expensive. I haven't used it myself, so I can't give an honest opinion.

 

[Sabrina Jay]

SuzanneC brings up a good point, that ProHeart does NOT do anything to prevent other intestinal parasites.

My vets office sells a 6 month supply of Heartguard Plus for $36 right now. (he just raised his rates up from $30, after keeping the cost down for several months after the manufacture of Heartguard had raised their rates to him).

Even if a vet is selling the Heartguard for $40 for a 6 month supply (or even a little more), the benefits of keeping the other intestinal parasite away, this is still a cost savings, than paying $36 for the ProHeart shot , then adding the cost of the medicines to get rid of other intestinal parasites. To treat for Roundworms and/or Hookworms are pretty expense.

Revolution: I will not use this product, or even consider using it until it has been on the market for quite awhile.

 

[matilda8255]

Kong Size

My Molly will go for the large or extra large kong. She especially likes the ones that have little bumps or riggies on them.
Eventually she will tear through the large. I recently purchased a teddy bear that is supposedly indestructable. I got it at Trader Joe's a gourmet health food supermarket (similar to a Wild Oats).
It was $12.00 and so far so good. Its been eaten by Molly and her sister Cleo the shepard and it still exists after a whole month.
Usually these two rip through a stuffed animal in 15 minutes.
This bear is saving my couch and I love it. I will find out the bear maker and post it for everyone.

 

[matilda8255]

Forgot to add Molly likes the red kong. I have never used anything but heart guard. There are someplaces online that sell it for less. Check it out..