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Originally Posted by stedmansmommy  I have always used Interceptor all my life on any babies that I have ever owned. However, if I don't give my kiddos their Heartworm Preventative this month (which I DO plan to - hubby is going to go and pick it up for me this week), it will be the 3rd month that they've gone without it  Can I just ask though - what is "BAD" about giving a heartworm preventative?  I'm honestly clueless... Also, to those who only give a heartworm preventative during the warmer months, how do you do this? I mean, once you start giving the heartworm preventative to them and then you stop for so long (for so many months), don't you have to have them tested for Heartworms to be sure that they don't have them before you start them back on the preventative again? I have always heard that this was necessary after they had been off the preventative as if they WERE to have Heartworms when you started them back on the preventative, it could kill them. |
With any medication you have the potential risk of side effects. So far I have not had any issues but would like to limit the medication given especially if it's not needed during winter in NYC/NJ area. For folks living in Florida or other areas that is warm all year round, I would think heartworm meds are needed through out th eyear. According to Wikipedia -
Heartworms go through several life stages before they become adults infecting the heart of the host animal. The worms require the mosquito as an intermediate stage in order to complete their life cycle. Development in the mosquito is temperature dependent, requiring approximately two weeks of temperature at or above 27 °C (80 °F). Below a threshold temperature of 14 °C (57 °F), development cannot occur, and the cycle will be halted.[8] As a result, transmission is limited to warm months, and duration of the transmission season varies geographically. The period between the initial infection when the dog is bitten by a mosquito and the maturation of the worms into adults living in the heart takes 6 to 7 months in dogs and is known as the "prepatent period".
I did have Cassi/Ori tested for heartworm before resuming their heartworm meds. I usually have the test done in the beginning of April b/c that's when I start taking them out again for warlks. Once I have confirmation from the vet that the test is negative for heartworm I start giving their meds again. Also my vet won't refill a heartworm prescription unless they have a negative heartworm test.
