when to start heartworm
 

So my vet says you do bloodwork for heartworm after may 1st and do treatment from june 1st to nov 1st...the 1st of every month, so 6 doses...however my dad's ver says it STARTS may 1st and goes until october 1st...

Ive tried googleing this and cant find anything helpful...anyone know....i just want to make sure my dogs AND my dads are covered. Last year i personally did june -nov....

It depends on the temperature not any specific date. It has to reach 57 degrees for weeks without falling below before the larvae develop to the right stage to infect dogs.

Since (most) heartworm medications destroy (not prevent) heartworms you give them 30 days after the start of the 57 degree weather and continue until 30 days after the end.

I leave room for error and make it 53 degrees just to be on the safe side but around here we jump from cold to hot weather practically overnight.

Heartworm | B-Naturals.Com Newsletter

"An interesting and important factor about the time the larvae is evolving in the mosquito is the temperature. The temperature that the mosquito is living in must not go below 57 degrees during this stage. A quote from Langsley Russell’s article states: “The importance of temperature: While the larvae are developing in the mosquito, development continues only when the temperature is above 64 degrees F. Further, the temperature MUST remain above 57 degrees Fahrenheit at all times, day and night during the entire mosquito cycle. If at any time during the development into the L3 stage, the temperature drops below 57 F, the development is aborted and must start over. Remember, it is only the L3 larvae which are capable of infesting your dog.”

Testing....

Heartworms can be detected by blood test. The filtration test finds microfilariae in the blood; the occult test locates adult worms in the heart. Many veterinarians prefer to do both tests as the absence of microfilariae in the blood does not necessarily mean that there are no adult worms in the heart. Both tests are done with a single blood draw, preferably in the early spring before daily temperatures warm above 57 degrees F.

Dog Owner's Guide: Heartworm Disease

If you want to find more info just do an online search for Heartworm and 57 degrees.

Where we live we have winter but I choose to keep them on their treatment all year long. That way I don't have to worry if we travel. I know of those who stop treatment during the winter months. Personal choice I guess.:animal-pa

Revolution prevent heartworms.

We give heartworm all year long. We live in Michigan and it does get cold, but that is what the vet thinks is best for here.

Our vet also says we should give it all year long. No problems so far. we did it with all our dogs historically. Roxy takes just fine to the meds- when she was a pup they made her nauseous, but now she's doing great on them.

I give mine from May til Nov. No point in giving them more poison then is absolutuly necessary. In a cold climate I would think May to Oct would be fine for you

Wow, I never realized that this had to do with the weather! I live in Phoenix, and so I just assumed that everyone gave it year-round. Yet again, YT has helped me learn something new!

yeah me too, well ill stick with my june-nov like the vet said...but who knows....i really thought everyone did it the same time, boy was i wrong. thanks for all the great advice!

we live in nyc and the weather is pretty cool most of the time but my girls are on heartguard all year long..

I live in WI and had read about the life cycle of the Heart worm before. It definitely changed my mind on when I would give it to my dogs! Heart guard, ect.. is poison and has been linked to a number of problems so I want to give it as little as possible!! Here in WI I may only need to give it in July and August!!! I have never heard of a vet saying that you should give it in the winter!! [for those of us who have winter]

Ellie's vet office says to do it all year long but they say that about flea meds too which is sooo unnecessary. I choose to do what I think is best on this because they are the ones getting money from the drugs...

I am confident that all mosquitos die during winter here, so this last year I stopped around November, did a heartworm test at the end of Feb. and started the med in March.

I can't justify giving Ellie pesticides that she doesn't need.

what brand of heartworm would u recommend?

We personally like Interceptor! :thumbup: