[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by BrooklynBlues

Vets were bombarded by the pharma companies when these meds were first introduced to convince them to recommend monthly "prevention," and the promise of easy money certainly helped, until it became a common practice. This happens to pretty much all new drug categories (for animals and humans). Some pharma campaigns are successful, and some aren't. The heartworm campaign was massively successful.



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I suggest you read the package insert on Heartgard....but in case you don't have the time to do that, I will paste some of the information below. I don't see any "bombardment" here.

http://www.heartgard.com/SiteCollect...s-for-Dogs.pdf


HEARTGARD Plus should be given at monthly intervals during the period of the year when mosquitoes (vectors), potentially carrying infective heartworm larvae, are active. The initial dose must be given within a month (30 days) after the dog’s first exposure to mosquitoes. The final dose must be given within a month (30 days) after the dog’s last exposure to mosquitoes.
When replacing another heartworm preventive product in a heartworm disease
preventive program, the first dose of HEARTGARD Plus must be given within a month(30 days) of the last dose of the former medication. If the interval between doses exceeds a month (30 days), the efficacy of ivermectin can
be reduced. Therefore, for optimal performance, the chewable must be given once a month on or about the same day of the month. If treatment is delayed, whether by a few days or many, immediate treatment with HEARTGARD Plus and resumption of therecommended dosing regimen will minimize the opportunity for the development of adult heartworms.

Monthly treatment with HEARTGARD Plus also provides effective treatment and
control of ascarids (T. canis, T. leonina) and hookworms (A. caninum, U. stenocephala,A. braziliense). Clients should be advised of measures to be taken to prevent reinfection with intestinal parasites.