Heartworm medication - advice needed

[Charlie]

Hi all:

I need some advice on heartworm medication. My parents just got a standard poodle puppy. She will be 10 weeks on Tues Sept 10/2002. They had her into the vet and he put her on heartworm pills - this is I think a series of 1 pill every 3 weeks for the next 2 months and then she protected until next spring. Meds also protect against round worm and hook worm.

My question is this? The breeder when they asked said don't use any heartworm medication as this can cause immune system deficiency. Is this true? Also what brands would you reccommend and what about flea proctection too.

Mom & Dad are a bit worried but since the vet also has a standard poodle himself they are trusting the vet for now.

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[mollysmom]

Maybe you have different meds in Cananda, but in the states we have monthly meds and a new 6 mo. injection. I haven't heard of your parent's kind of treatment before. Where I live, the mid atlantic states, we have to treat year round because occasionally the winters are on the mild side and mosquitos can survive. It may be that your weather will be cold enough in three weeks to kill off the mosquitos? If that's the case, your parents will re-start the heartworm meds come early spring.

I use a once a month product called Sentinel which kills off the the heartworm, kills other worms and parasites and also gives birthcontrol to any fleas that bite the dog.

I have not heard about any immune problems with heartworm meds, but down here where I live, there is no option. Many dogs die every year from heartworm.'

It might help others on the forum who are using heartworm meds in Canada respond if you give a name to the product your parents are using.

 

[Shifty]

We use the monthly treatment for H-worm here as well.

I always used Frontline as a flea preventative but recently switched when Matilda our newest rescue had some minor issues with it. Upon receiving a host of advice from here and other sources, our kids are all now on "Bug-Off Garlic" by Springtime Inc...thanks Karen I was a skeptic but was truly shocked at how well it has worked. It takes a week or two for the garlic to permeate the tissues but flea-free ever since.

Just curious Karen if you happen to surf thru here, how much do you feed your newfs of the garlic?

 

[Charlie]

I found out over the weekend my parents are using the heartworm med "Interceptor." Since Lyla, the dog, is only 10 weeks old and we are near the end of mosquito season (although at 34 degrees Celcius today it doesn't feel like fall - I think that is around 90 degrees F.) until April time i just want them to be prepared for next spring. This is the first pup they have had in over 30 years and I think they are bit overwhelmed by all the info.

Any more advise is welcome.

Caroline

 

[macgirl13ca]

We do have the same stuff here as in the States.
I've never heard of immune deficiency. Bubba was on Sentinel, but since he's on Ivermec now, we don't need more heartworm this year. I asked my vet Friday about Sentinel and he says its fine, never heard any immune problems.
If you feel more comfortable, I know of a couple breeders who only give the pill once every 45 days instead of once a month, apparently that's all that's really needed, it's just more convenient once a month. I've looked it up on the internet and don't see any bad reports of cutting it to once every 45 days.

[ 09-09-2002, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Bubba'sMom ]

 

[NewfsAlaska]

I enjoy reading these questions but unfortunately i cannot help on this one...there is no heartworm or fleas up here in Fairbanks...just soemthing we dont have to worry about...but at least i know for the future if we ever move!

 

[brady]

We use frontline for flea and tic and the heartgard (ivermectin/pyrantel) for the heartworm. We were told that if we treat him all year with the heartworm med he will never have to be tested. (because we started him the med when he was a puppy). The heartgard is given once per month.