User not logged in - login - register
Home Calendar Books School Tool Photo Gallery Message Boards Users Statistics Advertise Site Info
go to bottom | |
 Message Boards » » Heartworm Testing - needed? Page [1]  
Smath74
All American
93276 Posts
user info
edit post

my vet keeps testing for heartworm every 6 months in order to prescribe the dog a new set of pills. is this normal or are they just upselling shit we don't need?

3/7/2014 2:49:33 PM

lewoods
All American
3526 Posts
user info
edit post

I have never heard of that. I worked for a vet in coastal SC (more heartworms than here) and we only did initial testing. Some vets want to do it yearly because they assume you are an idiot and will forget to give the pills and not admit to it, but that's the only reason. If you don't give the meds in the winter then you do need to test for heartworms.

3/7/2014 2:54:50 PM

Smath74
All American
93276 Posts
user info
edit post

we give the pills year-round. is there a way to get the pills without going through the vet?

3/7/2014 2:56:05 PM

lewoods
All American
3526 Posts
user info
edit post

Yes. Ivermectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard) is available OTC labeled for horses and farm animals.

3/7/2014 2:57:31 PM

Smath74
All American
93276 Posts
user info
edit post

http://www.amazon.com/Vetrimec-1-Ivermectin-50ml/dp/B005C0UEWW

would this stuff work?

3/7/2014 3:05:41 PM

dtownral
Suspended
26632 Posts
user info
edit post

its not pills, are you okay giving an injection?

but really you should stop doing year round heartworm drugs. where the hell do you live? we don't have mosquitoes year round in NC.

3/7/2014 4:21:27 PM

lewoods
All American
3526 Posts
user info
edit post

I know several breeders who have used the 1% stuff. They said you have to be super careful with the dosing because for a dog you need a very small amount. It tastes bad so you have to soak it into a treat or something to make sure they get it all. It's such a small amount of clear liquid they could just drool it out and you wouldn't know.

3/7/2014 4:24:41 PM

NCSUHippie
If it feels good
1189 Posts
user info
edit post

You can get drugs here without a prescription:
http://www.petshed.com/heartworm-control

Just remember that they still need to be tested before treatment when you stop treatment.

3/7/2014 4:25:23 PM

lewoods
All American
3526 Posts
user info
edit post

The injectable stuff can be given orally.

Most people in NC give the pills all year because you can only skip them for a couple months, so giving the pills is less hassle, expense, and risk than going without a couple months then having to haul the dog to the vet for a test.

[Edited on March 7, 2014 at 4:27 PM. Reason : ...]

3/7/2014 4:25:40 PM

dtownral
Suspended
26632 Posts
user info
edit post

We don't have mosquitos for probably 5 months, and even after that the risk is pretty low

3/7/2014 6:04:25 PM

Smath74
All American
93276 Posts
user info
edit post

eh, my vet recommended year round treatment.

3/7/2014 7:46:33 PM

AntiMnifesto
All American
1870 Posts
user info
edit post

I go based on the winters. If we get a couple of good hard freezes like this winter, I'll stop treatment to avoid resistance. I always do flea/tick treatment starting around now, though.

You can treat dogs with ivermectin you can buy OTC for horses and other livestock, but be careful about the dosing. It's done by mg/kg. Dogs have OD'd because they found the leftover paste dewormer in its syringe and sucked it down (blame this on the owners being stupid and not disposing of the container properly).

3/8/2014 6:21:53 PM

puck_it
All American
15446 Posts
user info
edit post

^^posts thread doubting vet. Makes post siding with vet. Make up your mind.

3/8/2014 9:15:37 PM

Smath74
All American
93276 Posts
user info
edit post

?

this isn't a debate. this was a question to see if testing was necessary for a dog on medication year round, which my dog is.

3/8/2014 9:47:39 PM

elkaybie
All American
39626 Posts
user info
edit post

While we test once a year, I don't have to have her tested for a refill. I usually only buy 6 months supply bc we don't give her heartworm trx year round (usually skip dec-mar), and can easily walk in at any time to get more.

3/9/2014 9:44:51 AM

 Message Boards » The Lounge » Heartworm Testing - needed? Page [1]  
go to top | |
Admin Options : move topic | lock topic

© 2024 by The Wolf Web - All Rights Reserved.
The material located at this site is not endorsed, sponsored or provided by or on behalf of North Carolina State University.
Powered by CrazyWeb v2.38 - our disclaimer.