Of all things to decline at the vets...DON'T DECLINE THIS!

[Beamers Mom]

Originally Posted by MyBabyFynnlie

I am so sorry for you loss. I can't imagine what that's like. I'm sorry for you and for Cinnamon... *hugs*

Thanks Jessica
It was 10 years ago. I have so many urns on the fireplace and in a cabinet from Rescues. I always adopted the senior ones - was supposed only to foster, but could never bring myself to rehome them. There was always a good reason to keep them - like Annie, she was a lovely senior, supposedly had the mange and was "aggressive" - according to her original foster. the mange turned out to be dry skin, and she wasn't a bit agressive - she did have to get used to the "pecking order" though. But she was beautiful. When her skin problem cleared up she was supposed to be turned back to the rescue group for them to rehome. But, my husband said "How can you let Annie go, she sings" - and she did "sing"
The lady in charge of rescues understood - after all I think she knew when she placed Annie with us she would end up staying with us. We had taken in several rescues for the group.
I am just thankful I was able to make their last few years happier. And I never had to have one of them PTS for pain or anything, they just went to sleep in their own good time, naturally. Ginger, the last of my "spice girls" left us last June. She was around 16/17 years old, we got her the same time we got Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Nutmeg lived to be around 18 years old. Cinnamon, unfortunately because of the heartworms was only with us a very short time.

Sorry for rambling on - I can't help it when I talk about those beautiful furbabies who had such a bad start in life. Puppy mills need to be closed down!

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

But giving the preventative without doing the test is dangerous. A heart worm can come loose and cause a clot in the lungs or brain. The owner and the vet need to be aware of the presence of the worms in order to watch out for this potentially fatal consequence.

It can happen irregardless. I still think it is better than nothing. The dog can also DIE from heartworms.

[Teegy]

you know this is a bone of contension for me
I have two friends a couple, who both refuse to treat any of their dogs for heartworm. Ontario has lots of mosquitos and it's getting worse each year.
They tell me the meds are poison and in about 8 years the issues will start to show in my dog.
I have other friends who are always taking their babies to the woods and their cottage who are 100% behind meds.
I told my vet and he said he's heard these complaints too and has yet to hear someone provide scientific data to back it up.
Until then Revolution is Teegy's best friend in the summer

[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.

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by Teegy

you know this is a bone of contension for me
I have two friends a couple, who both refuse to treat any of their dogs for heartworm. Ontario has lots of mosquitos and it's getting worse each year.
They tell me the meds are poison and in about 8 years the issues will start to show in my dog.
I have other friends who are always taking their babies to the woods and their cottage who are 100% behind meds.
I told my vet and he said he's heard these complaints too and has yet to hear someone provide scientific data to back it up.
Until then Revolution is Teegy's best friend in the summer

I have to say this issue gets me too. I have lots of friends who go nearly 100% homeopathic. They at least have their dogs on nosodes to try to prevent HW or some other homeopathic treatment. I know I have seen homeopathic remedies on websites, but I still use Interceptor and I do have my dogs tested every year. What I won't do and have never done is use any new products. I also won't use anything that combines treatments. I only use flea treatments when I feel its needed.

I fear somewhere down the line we might actually hear that there is some risk of something from all these "treatments" we are giving our pets. It's like immunizations, and giving them more frequently than every three years, it makes me sick to think I use to get them on my pets every year.

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

It can happen irregardless. I still think it is better than nothing. The dog can also DIE from heartworms.

I'm not advocating doing nothing. But this is one of those times when being penny wise can end up being pound foolish. The mobile vaccination clinics at Petco will run a heart worm check for $20.00. I'll scrape together 20 bucks versus potentially killing my dog.

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

I'm not advocating doing nothing. But this is one of those times when being penny wise can end up being pound foolish. The mobile vaccination clinics at Petco will run a heart worm check for $20.00. I'll scrape together 20 bucks versus potentially killing my dog.

It is indeed! I don't even advocate using those vaccination clinics and for the same reason, penny wise, pound foolish. Many of those clinics are run without a vet present, a dangerous thing to do, IMO. Plus, and I can't reiterate this enough, you should always have a relationship with a vet. I am a very good REGULAR customer at my vet's and I can tell you, when I pick up the phone and call my vet expecting to see one in the morning for a sick pet, I better get in. I consider that an absolute. Otherwise, I will find a vet that appreciates my regular business better.

However, we aren't talking about the person who will spent $40 for a test or who will scrape together $20 for a test. We are talking about the person who will spend $0. Chances are, they won't spend the money on getting the HW preventive either, but I think it is better to try to get them to take that than do nothing.

FYI, I do have my dog's tested. I use Interceptor, always have and probably always will since I haven't had any problems with it.

[Beamers Mom]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

Chances are, they won't spend the money on getting the HW preventive either, but I think it is better to try to get them to take that than do nothing.

But how will they get a prescription for the Hartgard without the vet testing the dog for HW first?
I don't know any reputable vet that would give the prescription for the preventative without testing for heartworms first.

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

It is indeed! I don't even advocate using those vaccination clinics and for the same reason, penny wise, pound foolish. Many of those clinics are run without a vet present, a dangerous thing to do, IMO. Plus, and I can't reiterate this enough, you should always have a relationship with a vet. I am a very good REGULAR customer at my vet's and I can tell you, when I pick up the phone and call my vet expecting to see one in the morning for a sick pet, I better get in. I consider that an absolute. Otherwise, I will find a vet that appreciates my regular business better.

However, we aren't talking about the person who will spent $40 for a test or who will scrape together $20 for a test. We are talking about the person who will spend $0. Chances are, they won't spend the money on getting the HW preventive either, but I think it is better to try to get them to take that than do nothing.

FYI, I do have my dog's tested. I use Interceptor, always have and probably always will since I haven't had any problems with it.

ITA. I don't advocate the mobile clinics either. But to say that the test is too expensive to justify not testing or giving preventatives, IMO, is bogus. But chances are, someone who won't shell out for a test or preventatives won't shell out for treatment if their dog does develop heart worms.

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by Beamers Mom

But how will they get a prescription for the Hartgard without the vet testing the dog for HW first?
I don't know any reputable vet that would give the prescription for the preventative without testing for heartworms first.

That's just it, most vet's won't. But I don't believe they are doing any good to not giving the heartguard anyway, especially when you can go to any feed store and get ivermectin. It is safer to get it from a vet, but anybody can give ivermectin to their dogs. That's what heartguard is.

How many times have you heard suspicious people imply a vet is just doing tests to get their money? I am of the opinion that a vet would be doing better by the pet to get the owner to take the heartguard rather than do nothing. And there is no LAW, not even a heartguard requirement to test first. If a vet treats a dog for HW and warns the owner of the potential risks, why can't a vet do the same thing with heartguard?

[LifeLovePassion]

what age should heartworm stuff be given? How young is too young?

[Ellie May]

They can give it without a test. It makes them liable for whatever happens though and not many vets would consider taking that on. They have enough crazy junk to deal with.

BTW, not long ago a dog was given Ivermectin and then switched to an actual product (Heartgard). In between the switch, it was not HW tested (accidental and devastating oversight). Dog got heartworms. Could have been the regular Ivermection or Heartgard (guessing the former). It's pretty darn scary to think people can just buy a bottle of it. The general public does not know brands and nobody except the company and store knows how it was shippied, what temp. it was kept at, etc.

[Reese1]

We use Sentinel and yes it is expensive for three dogs, they are on it all year, but this goes back to the total cost factor.
That's why when people are only concerned about getting a Yorkie for cheap up front, I don't think they consider these types of long run bills.
We test yearly, to me it's our responsibility as pet owners!

[Cha Cha]

Originally Posted by EarthAngel

I have a question as to why I need to have the heartworm test done once a year when my Yorkie who is 1 yr. 5 mos. old and a Boxer who is 1 yr. old have been on it since they were able to get it? I still have no idea why they need to get retested before getting their next prescription of Heartguard. If anyone can tell me I'd appreciate it.

Just like bacteria developes a resistance to antibiotics, worms mutate and develop a resistance to drugs. That is another reason why yearly tests are so important.

[Beamers Mom]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

. If a vet treats a dog for HW and warns the owner of the potential risks, why can't a vet do the same thing with heartguard?

because their livelihood is on the line! if a vet treats a dog for heartworms without testing and the dog does have heartworms and dies because of the Heartgard, then there are lawyers out there who would only be too willing to take on the dog owners case against the vet.

A human goes into hospital for surgery and always signs a consent form, yet how many turn around and sue when something goes wrong????