When I talked to my vet about it, he said I could cut them in half and divide it between two dogs, but that once the medication was opened it had to be used immediately, you could not save it until the next month.

Oh no. Jeanie, I think I'd question your vet. Following his recommendation....mmmm. First of all the med wouldn't be evenly distributed throughout the pill, so one dog wouldn't be receiving the correct or required dosage, if any at all.

I know the brand I buy, Heartgaurd Plus says it can't be cut in half, the medicine isn't evenly distributed. Not all heartgaurd medicines kill all worms either, some just kill the heartworm.

Oh no. :eek: I didn't get through this whole thread but I can tell you that I lived on 13th and Ave F there in Council Bluffs and we did have mosquitoes!

Unfortunately, years ago we didn't protect our blk Lab, Lucky, and he did get heartworms. OMG it was the worst thing I've ever dealt with - especially since he was on meds for seizures. Our Vet had to contact UNO to see about dosage for the heartworms. It almost killed Lucky. :cry:

There's no way I could live anywhere other than here without giving my kids heartworm meds.

I just wanted to comment since this thread has turned a bit and heartworms are being discussed. Everyone has their own protocol for de-worming and not all will agree. I will say that, in general, de-wormers are far less toxic than heartworm preventatives.

So many people tend to think of heartworm prevention as a necessary thing, and in most areas it is. I do think, however, that everyone should educate themselves about them and the ways in which dogs contract heartworms before blindly giving prevention.

A couple of things I'd like to point out.

Dogs do not get heartworms from just a mosquito bite. The mosquito must have first bitten a heartworm positive animal before having the larvae in its body to transfer to another dog.

The heartworm larvae must reach stage 2 (a period of 2 weeks) before it can be transmitted by a mosquito. It must live in the mosquito's body until then.

If, at any time before reaching stage 2 in the mosquito, the temperature dips below 57 degrees, the process must start over. So, even if mosquitoes are present, if the temp is dipping below 57 at least once every 2 weeks, there is no risk of transmission.

Once a mosquito with stage 2 larvae bites a dog, the heartworm larvae takes 40-60 days before maturing to the stage where it can settle in the heart.

Both flea and heartworm preventatives are not medicine....they are pesticides. While they may be 'necessary', the use of, and especially the overuse of them can lead to many health problems. I consider the typical 'every 30 days - year round' application to be overuse.

These preventatives are typically packaged for a range of weight. If your dog fall on the lower end of that range, it is being overdosed.

As a breeder, I am especially concerned with this issue, particularly with my girls. You have to remember that a female is born with all the eggs she will ever produce and those eggs can suffer from the cumulative effects of these pesticides. We have all seen the disastrous effects of DDT and Agent Orange on both humans and wildlife. DDT almost single-handedly wiped out several species in our country, including the bald eagle. Do you really trust the safety of applying pesticides monthly to our dogs?

Most breeders know of using ivermectin for heartworm preventtion. At least if you get that from a source such as Revival, you can tailor the dosage to the exact weight of your dog, which, to me, is a safer way of doing it. No need then to administer a product dosed for a range of weight.

These are just my thoughts and no one has to agree. I am very concerned with the wide range of conditions and illnesses that seem to affect the toy breeds and I am convinced there is a connection between them and the constant administration of pesticides on dogs. I believe we are creating 'toxic dogs' in doing this and a more thought out protocol and judicious use of these products could lower the incidence of some of these problems.

Just my .02.

Thank you for that information, I never thought about seeking another option to the Heartguard. I am definitely going to look into that option.

I totally agree with you Jim. There are areas of the country that are very prevelant with mosquitoes. I know that when I left Texas, highly mosquitoe invested, with high cases of heartworm. The one thing I did like about them is they did eradicate other parisites.

When I left Texas was I ever glad. I kept the dogs on heartworm prevention for a year after. One less toxic thing I'm not putting in the dogs. I hate the rabies vaccine.

Mary, I'm down on the Mississippi Coast so I know what it's like to have mosquitoes year round. I'm very uncomfortable with the 'typical' protocol, however, and have tried to educate myself on this and not blindly follow what I consider a dangerous protocol. It's so much like the usual 'annual' vaccination school of thought, which is also very harmful to our dogs.

I believe the first rule of thumb is have a vet that you work well with. One that is practicing for the love of the animal. If you find one such as that, it's your best line of defense. I've yet to find one here, that I'm completely comfortable, so I work with a couple. The one I had in Dallas, was the one I feel more comfortable with.

I know my girlfriend had her yorkie on Revolution. She lives here. She switched vets and her now vet told her she was using a med that was much an overkill for dogs in California.

I have yet to find a vet that I 'fully' trust. I am on my third one in the last seven years. He works with me and we have good communication and I think it's likely the best I'll do around here. There is a wonderful clinic in Mandeville, LA that I completely trust and that is where I go when the need arises (I've been twice). They're fully staffed with specialists, have all the diagnostic equipment and are open 24 hrs.

i guess i would rather give posion..then have to deal with worms..my bad!

and you did bring up kids and immunizations... CHEESE N RICE LADY!!!

i think about how these vaccines/dewormers were invented for a good reason and i will follow protcall

you dont think its cause he wants the money for the test ..either way he profits

he tests..$15
worms $15.00
he test and no worms? still made 15.00

to the op..please ask your vet for the best information..cant trust what you read online

I didn't know that you lived in CB. When did you leave here?

We live out in the country, up on a hill, where there is no standing water, and always a breeze, which is probably why we are not bothered by mosquitoes.

I have weiner roasts and we sit out and visit way past dark and no one is bothered by mosqitoes.

However I am going to do more research on which is the best way to go. I know there is a risk, as there is a risk with anything, coyotes, halks, owls etc. But there are also the dangers of cancer from repeated exposer to pesticides.

I don't use flea preventers unless I see a flea, and most years I never see one, if I do, I treat one time, unless a second dose is warranted.

Very good advice because a reputable vet will require a stool sample.