Heartworm Prevention

[tansat]

Hi All,

I just got a friendly reminder from my vet about heartworm prevention. This is the first spring/summer that Bailey will be with us so this is new to me. I understand that this is carried by mosquitos and we live in the city (if that matters)

I know that my breeder takes a very minimalist stance on vaccines and medications but often vets think differently.

I just wanted to get some thoughts / feedback on what our forum readers and participants think?

Thanks everyone!!!

Val

 

[ardeagold]

We live in an area surrounded by water, and have a lot of marshland and mosquitoes. We definitely give the preventative all year round.

The HW prevention will keep her HW clear plus helps to keep intestinal worms at bay. If she walks anywhere another dog is, she can pick up those worms.

Plus getting rid of HW is a terrible treatment (and the dog can die from the HW's OR the treatment)...so the preventative is worth any "risk" to me.

 

[BlackLightning]

Hey Val, we are right around the corner from you. We treat with heartworm preventative for half the year. No need in the Winter.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

We do year round too. It gets costly once your dog goes over 100 pounds, since you have to buy 2 sizes. We use Interceptor

Ask your vet or research what the standard treatment for a heart worm positive dog is. It isn't pretty or simple.

 

[sadkins]

We give heart worm prevention year round also.

 

[tansat]

Thanks everyone for their responses. I will definitely be taking our girl in as a precaution.

As for the weight delta, that is a whole other topic. Bailey is an 8 month old Bernese and she's just cracked the 60 lbs mark. 62 lbs to be precise - so smaller than the norm. She full of energy and eats like a champ. I think she'll be sub-100lbs - at least for this year.

Thansk everyone!!!!

 

[4ondafloor]

We give Interceptor year round here in NC.

 

[LoveLandseers]

We give it year round but it's so controversial, like many dog rearing things it seems!

 

[newfy]

We use Interceptor year round in NJ.

 

[OurnewfDarwin]

I live near San Francisco and was told it's not necessary here. I guess that we should use it 48 hours after camping or trips where we encounter mosquitos. I'm still doing my research, though.

 

[newflizzie]

We give Interceptor year round here in NC.

Us too!

 

[dumainedogs]

Yearround in LA.. we're in the "heart" of mosquito and "heartworm" country here! Although, I -do- stretch them past the 4 week point in the winter months when there are few to no mosquitos. I'm also careful to space them out with the flea prevention so I'm not "piling on" with preventives at the same time.

 

[Tula]

Year round Interceptor for all of our eight dogs here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

[KodysGrandma]

We have lived in NW Fl for over 35 years and had multiple dogs all that time. Anyway, years ago when we first arrived here the vet told us to use preventive as mosquitos were so prevelant. His standard was - start 30 days BEFORE the start of mosquisto season and continue for 30 days past mosquito season. We use it year round and had never had heartworms in any dog that started out with us or came heartworm free.

 

[sendchocolate]

Discussed with my vet, and here in Orange County, we don't get a lot of mosquitos, really. My vet insists he hasn't seen a case of heart worm here in a long time. But I think now that she is older, I will probably at least treat in the Spring/Summer. Can you buy Interceptor online?

 

[4ondafloor]

Even when I lived in SoCal my dogs were on preventatives year round.
I get my interceptor from my vet but I get discounts because of rescue so I don't pay full price.
We don't really do dog parks but because we are on trails where a lot of dogs go I think it's important to be on the interceptor year round due to all the other worms they can get as well.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Can you buy Interceptor online?

Yes, but you need a vet prescription. My vet tries to match mail order prices too from well known respectable online dealers for a year's supply. In January, I bought from my vet. They met the cheapest price on both sizes, but from 2 mail order places. BTW, do not believe 1800petmeds is the cheapest no mater what they try to make you think in their advertising.

One thing to also remember, most vets (I think by way of the drug maker) if you buy from them and treat year round, if the dog becomes heart worm positive, they are to treat the dog for free. Some of the online sites make that guarantee statement.

 

[Tula]

Please check to make sure your meds are guaranteed. Leonard is correct, if purchased through your vet, if your pet gets HW , the manufacturer will cover the cost of treatment. Many online sites sell counterfeit meds, manufactured in Mexico or China. Why take a chance?

 

[mrs big dogs]

does any one use advantage plus, that what we use , pros/cons???

 

[NinaA]

In KY our vet says anybody south of the Ohio River should treat year round. I also am surrounded by water so we've been treating year round for 20 years.