Heartworm Dosing Venting

[Yorkie Luv of 3]

my girls use Iverhart MAX,, which is rated 6 - 12 lbs.,, BUT,, it is what our Vets here recommend and they made a call to Iverhart in front of me with our questions on the possibile problems it might have for smaller dogs,, it basically boiled down to,, only thing is SOME dogs (larger or smaller) get real upset tummies or loose bowels,, I spoke at length with both the vets , and they agreed it was the best to use and since its only slight loose stools the day of giving them the pills,, I'm fine with it,, they seem fine with it,, its what we use,, and it covers Hookworm, Whipworms AND TAPEWORM,, besides the Heartworm protection,,, so basically all around covered.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by yorkiepup2

Hmmmm.....this is all interesting to me because I have never given my yorkies heartworm medicine.........and my oldest one is 10. Can someone enlighten me?

I don't give heartworm med either. My vet gave Max one chew when he was a puppy and was finishing up his puppy vacc's, but she told me that we don't have heartworm here in the desert.

BUT she said that if I take him anywhere that has it, I needed to give it to him.....

I've taken him to Napa Valley a few times (mostly in the winter though, so that I'm not too worried about) and I'm going to be going there again very soon. What should I do? Should I have them tested and give it to them? How long should I give it to them is what I really wonder. If I'm in the desert almost all the time and up North only a week or so at a time? It's really confusing.

[Sandysbabies]

I have all of mine on Inteceptor and have used it for years. I have never had a problem with it. Kayla's pill is real tiny. I went in and looked and its 0 to 10lbs. I hate all the stuff they put them on with chemicals. I just refuse to give them Frontline and all that other crap if I have to bathe them daily. It is scary as heck. I will never forget Mandy dragging her little foot and it turned under from Frontline. Here in Texas we have mesquitoes as big as horses so you almost have to protect them with something when they go out to tee tee. Mine never stay out long enough other than to go potty because it is already so hot here. I'm even concerned about vaccinations. What is the answers?????

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Sandysbabies

I have all of mine on Inteceptor and have used it for years. I have never had a problem with it. Kayla's pill is real tiny. I went in and looked and its 0 to 10lbs. I hate all the stuff they put them on with chemicals. I just refuse to give them Frontline and all that other crap if I have to bathe them daily. It is scary as heck. I will never forget Mandy dragging her little foot and it turned under from Frontline. Here in Texas we have mesquitoes as big as horses so you almost have to protect them with something when they go out to tee tee. Mine never stay out long enough other than to go potty because it is already so hot here. I'm even concerned about vaccinations. What is the answers?????

I have used Interceptor and I do think it is fairly safe.
I just get really upset when they put five times more garbage in it than necessary so they can claim that it does more.

We are very cautious about vaccinations also since Ellie went in shock 1.5 years ago after some.

[nvnvgirl]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I have used Interceptor and I do think it is fairly safe.
I just get really upset when they put five times more garbage in it than necessary so they can claim that it does more.

We are very cautious about vaccinations also since Ellie went in shock 1.5 years ago after some.

Wow, I can't blame you for being so cautious! I don't know that I'd EVER give mine anymore if that happened to me! It must be anxiety producing every time she needs to be revacc'd.

I wonder if they got enough letters voicing concern over this issue, if they might come up with a small dog formula? I'd be willing to write if you thought it might help

Or maybe even a petition and get everyone to sign it online and then send it in to them?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by nvnvgirl

Wow, I can't blame you for being so cautious! I don't know that I'd EVER give mine anymore if that happened to me! It must be anxiety producing every time she needs to be revacc'd.

I wonder if they got enough letters voicing concern over this issue, if they might come up with a small dog formula? I'd be willing to write if you thought it might help

Or maybe even a petition and get everyone to sign it online and then send it in to them?

You are so nice.
If you want to do something to help, support the Rabies Challenge Fund.
This can be done through monetary donations and/or writing emails to representatives about laws that are about to be passed.
I do allow her to have vaccines still because it was probably the lepto that did it and we just don't give that one. Of course since so many were given together I really can't say for sure it wasn't the rabies. We will find out next time she has to have it. It should be fine though.

Miss Ellie threw up, then I touched her and she collapsed. Her gums were gray, her eyes wouldn't focus, she wouldn't really move. It was horrible. Thank God she was breathing and her heart was fine.

These decisions are all so difficult but I've learned my lesson.
As much as possible, give one vaccine at a time and more vaccines isn't always better.

I think the rabies is way more potent than it needs to be.
Nobody will agree to cut it in half though because you need so much of the drug to trigger an immune response regardless of the size of the dog.
So while you could probably give less than 1/10 of it and be safe, it is hard to say.