[Lizzie07]

I always have my rescues tested for HW and have only, thank heavens, had to have two treated. One, is Monty, my 14+ year old IG and the other was a dog that had been living outside and hadn't seen a vet in four years. Both were treated with imiticide, and neither had xrays first, which helped with the cost.

There is no way I can be convinced that it is better to do nothing and let a dog get HW and never get treated than to just give the Heartguard if that is what you can get an owner to do. HW will kill a dog, and yes, there is a risk to treating a dog that has HW, whether or not it is given treatment or takes Heartguard. I just don't think nothing is better in this case. Ideally, people would get the test first.

I know people who treat their dogs with ivermectin from a feed store because they don't want or can't afford the costs of tests and preventative.