Question for my Buddys - Heartworm Related

[ColleenAus]

well guys - shelby is nearly five months - si thought i should clarify some thing - when should i heart worm her - does this require a poopers sample to be tested?

Where we live heartworm is minimal - or so i am lead to believe.. but we are heading up north in december when she will be 6 months old and that is where the heart worm and ticks etc are - so wat precautions should i take? should i heart worm her for a week before etc? we only go to this place once maybe twice a year - so i have decided that the year round med is NOT the go for me

The vets suggestion - to go tot he camping site and bringher in to him when we get back - i dont know if i have posted this before - but he has this needle he gives that kills all parasites picked up - then he would do a poo sample and then he would medicate her - which im guessing would be quite costly - not a problem for me but i think he has issues with trying to con people into stuff they dont need.

im just interested in doing wat is best for Shelby - and i dont think that needle he has is wat is best - but i also dont want to risk the heart worm - also about ticks and stuff can is top those up there?

sorry for the long post guys!

love colly

 

[Chewy's Mom]

Hi Colly!!

I'm not the resident heart worm expert, but I think heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos. I'd rather prevent heart worm than try to treat it because I understand that treatment is quite expensive and difficult for the dog. Sorry, but I think your vet is a quack. Tell him to keep his magic needle to himself. Before you put Shelby on a heart worm preventative, you have to get a heart worm test done. We just had one done for our foster, and it only cost $15. It's a simple blood test - not a poo sample. Then you could put her on Heart Guard or something similar just for the time of year that she is most at risk. That's what I personally would do. Give Shelby a hug from me and Stella!

Monique

 

[ColleenAus]

thanks mon!!

BIG huggles from us down here

thanks for the advise i think will tell tha vet to stick his needle "in his self" hehehe as fort he heart guard can u do it for just a month? or does it have to be for like 4 months before its effective?

 

[Chewy's Mom]

I'm pretty sure you can do it for just a month - but I'm not positive. Maybe you can try doing a search and see if you can find more info.

 

[Matt S]

I'd be using a heartworm prevention product for more than one month each year.
As you know Colleen we live in the same state of Australia as you & Mosquitos seem to be around for quite a few months of the year. I would've thought you guys in Geelong would have similar areas that are prone to mosquitos as us in & near Melbourne. (ie: wetlands etc. etc.)
As far as ticks go, well you're right, they're not the problem here as they are up North so I'd be checking for ticks regularly when you're away. If you're extra worried about ticks then maybe use 1 of the Spot On products for a month or 2 which supposedly helps to prevent ticks.
BTW....ours get heart guard every month just to be sure, plus it makes for an extra treat.

 

[ejfree]

OK, I'm very new to this puppy stuff, but I thought dogs have to have heartworm medicine every month. Is heart guard something completely different? I would love to save a little money if possible, but I certainly don't want to take a chance of hurting our baby. Thanks.

 

[debbie knowles]

Hi Ejfree,

Here is what I think for what it is worth. Heartworm prevention needs vary with the climate. Areas not prone to mosquitos year round can get by with protection just during the months that mosquitos are a problem. However we live in the sandhills area of NC and there are some winters where it does not get cold enough to really get rid of the pests, so just to be safe, I DO give my guys heartworm protection year round. I know a lot of people have different opinions of this need, but in our climate, I just refuse to take the chance when it can be so easily prevented. Deb K