|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
04-15-2008, 12:46 PM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: maine
Posts: 343
| Heartworm test or not ??? I am taking Cooper to obedience school starting tomorrow. He seems to be afraid of everyone and every other dog we see, so I am hoping it will help him to socialize some. And once in a while he runs when he has the chance and hes VERY hard to catch. Anyway to get to the point. I took him to the vets for a kennel cough vacine that was recomended before he started the class and the vet assistant asked me about having both dogs checked for heartworm. I made an appointment but am not sure weither they bneed it or not. The last vet that saw both of tyhem in Feb. told me that because they were inside dogs and only go out on leashes or in my yard with me that he wouldn't bother. I asked about the cost of the test and meds. For both dogs it would cost me 160.00 a year!! That is the test and meds for 8 months and then we do it all over again next year . I guess I thought they did the test and as long as they were negitive they got the meds for 3 months and then just got the meds again next year without the test. I want whats best for my babies but is this really needed ?? |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-15-2008, 12:48 PM | #2 |
Owned by Tumi & Gracie Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC
Posts: 2,321
| i just got the test for my girls 2 weeks ago to renew the prescription. They said after they turn a year, you need to have it every year. I just want to be safe than sorry. both of mine are healthy as they can be but i just want to make sure..
__________________ PROUD MOMMY OF MS.TUMI,MS.TSUBI AND MS.GRACIE! I LOVE MY BABY GIRLS!! PROUD MEMBER OF THE CRAZY CLUB! |
04-15-2008, 12:52 PM | #3 |
No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK
Posts: 16,218
| Good question, one which I don't quite understand. If our pets are on Heartworm why must they be tested yearly? Does heartworm meds not prevent heartworm? The test is expensive too even tho it only takes a minute to come up neg or positive. I have to ask next month about this. |
04-15-2008, 12:57 PM | #4 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| I dont think its needed. Mine are hardly ever outside. They take the heartworm medicine in the warm months. However if I dont have the test done yearly the vet wont sell me heartworm meds
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
04-15-2008, 12:58 PM | #5 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida
Posts: 8,577
| worms I would check with a few breeders and vets to see how much heartworm is in your area. I never had any of mine on heartworm in MD for 35 yrs..never had a case of heart worms..but here in Florida, all of mine are on meds... I found a vet who charges $33 per year for Heart Guard..so check around for pricing. |
04-15-2008, 12:58 PM | #6 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 3,370
| Quote:
| |
04-15-2008, 01:05 PM | #7 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: maine
Posts: 343
| Well my thought is that the meds is to prevent the disease but also I asked about testing when they were at the vets in Feb. I was told they dont test until April.. Of course that means another office visit at 40 each plus the test. But also to take the meds for 8 months will take them into December.. I thought they didnt have to take it in cold months.. I live in Maine so its cold by November the latest.. So I am really confused about the whole thinng. |
04-15-2008, 01:06 PM | #8 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 11,003
| Quote:
also, most vets require regular heartworm testing because if you dog does have heartwoms, it can be fatal to give them heartworm preventative. So you always want to make sure your dog is negative for heartworms before starting a heartworm preventative. I don't know about Maine, but here in Texas mosquitos are really bad from Spring-Fall, and even in the winter it's not cold for long so heartworms are a risk year-round. I keep my dogs on a preventative all year to be safe. Heartworms are not something to play around with...they can damage the heart and treatment is very hard and can even be fatal if a dog gets heartworms. I've seen hearts just clogged with heartworms and didn't know how any blood fit in the heart...they were spilling out into the lungs. I know some areas don't have a need for year-round preventative but be sure to test your dog once a year and get them on preventative in the months where mosquitos are present. Even if you have an inside dog, there is still a risk. Mosquitos can easily fly inside your house when you open the door.
__________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue. | |
04-15-2008, 01:06 PM | #9 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida
Posts: 8,577
| test Vets do not trust the owners to actually give the meds..if they are missed or owners lies, then there could be a problem...that is what a number of vets have told me... I told my new vet I do not lie and give them meds faithfully..so he did not require a test..and any pups start at 12 weeks and do not need a test...takes 6 months for the larva to mature in the heart... testing at 4 to 6 month old puppy is needless..they would have needed to be bitten by a mosquito the day they were born... Check the area for the incidents of infestation in your state or area... |
04-15-2008, 01:06 PM | #10 |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida
Posts: 4,549
| It is my understanding that a dog is immune until six months of age so no heartworm meds are needed until they reach six months. I have all three of mine tested for heartworms every year at a clinic I take them to because they will not sell the heartguardplus if I don't. It is only $15for the test for each of them and then $34 for a year supply each. Well worth preventing heartworms. The clinic also gives them all the shots. So each dog costs me $78 through the clinic.............a big savings from my regular vet's charges. I asked my regular vet that cares for the other needs of my dogs when they get sick about testing every year and he said that it is necessary that it is a "preventative" and the only way to know if they do not have them is to test! So I test!
__________________ CAROL ~ Krissie ~ Toby ~ Brandy ~ Buffy Proud member of Maltesetalk and Yorkietalk Last edited by Morkie4; 04-15-2008 at 01:08 PM. |
04-15-2008, 01:10 PM | #11 | |
Owned by Tumi & Gracie Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC
Posts: 2,321
| Quote:
__________________ PROUD MOMMY OF MS.TUMI,MS.TSUBI AND MS.GRACIE! I LOVE MY BABY GIRLS!! PROUD MEMBER OF THE CRAZY CLUB! | |
04-15-2008, 01:24 PM | #12 |
Luv my 7 Furkids Donating Member | well add up 7 of em....all mine are on sentinal and get tested. My mom had a great dane that had heartworms. She survived but she went thru he_ _ in treatment. Had to go to UC Davis. I will not subject mine to that. So for that reason its worth the cost. The testing, I was told that they have to because if they have heartworms the heartworm meds can actually make them sicker. They need to be sure they do not have the worms before they can prescibe meds. But I agree, I think its a rip off. |
04-15-2008, 01:24 PM | #13 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: pennsylvania
Posts: 783
| I only give the meds from April to October. I had one initial test and my vet has never made me test again |
04-15-2008, 01:30 PM | #14 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida
Posts: 8,577
| worms They are not actually immune for the first 6 months...when a mosquito bites a dog, it injects the larva..it must travel to the heart and develop...and that takes at least 6 months...round worm, for example only have a 14 days cycle...that is what the vet told me... |
04-15-2008, 01:51 PM | #15 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: maine
Posts: 343
| Thanks for all the good responses!! Living in Maine I really can see giving the meds through the hot season but really don't feel it should be necessary through the winter months.I am taking my babies in Tues morning and I am going to talk to there vet about using the meds in the summer only, and I really dont think they should have to be tested every year as long as they are back on meds before it gets hot again, but we will see what he says.... |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart