Major Heartworm Med Rant!!!!

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Very interesting, thanks. Especially interesting was the info about Safeheart...and why on earth the FDA didn't approve it is beyond me.

Interesting indeed in that they are recommending letting your pup get heartworms and maybe they can live with them. And...they also say that Benji lived to be old after undergoing the treatment. I hope all of you who promote this have seen first hand what the treatment is and have also checked the cost. I feel sorry for any pup who must have those awful shots. Yes, they can die from the worms dying off!

And..please note at the bottom of that website the following! They say to be an educated consumer and after reading some of the things I have read I wonder what the term really means to each person.

They are voicing their opinion and further letting you know that it may not actually be valid information...they give it for "educational purposes only" thereby thinking they are released from liability.
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Most importantly, do not make decisions out of fear. Don’t let anyone, even your vet, intimidate or ridicule you. Be an educated consumer and a rabid advocate for your dog’s health.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only. Do not rely on this information without doing your own research including consultation with your own veterinarian. Do not buy or fail a product for treating heartworm without evaluating it carefully.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Interesting indeed in that they are recommending letting your pup get heartworms and maybe they can live with them. And...they also say that Benji lived to be old after undergoing the treatment. I hope all of you who promote this have seen first hand what the treatment is and have also checked the cost. I feel sorry for any pup who must have those awful shots. Yes, they can die from the worms dying off!

And..please note at the bottom of that website the following! They say to be an educated consumer and after reading some of the things I have read I wonder what the term really means to each person.

They are voicing their opinion and further letting you know that it may not actually be valid information...they give it for "educational purposes only" thereby thinking they are released from liability.
---------------------------

Most importantly, do not make decisions out of fear. Don’t let anyone, even your vet, intimidate or ridicule you. Be an educated consumer and a rabid advocate for your dog’s health.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only. Do not rely on this information without doing your own research including consultation with your own veterinarian. Do not buy or fail a product for treating heartworm without evaluating it carefully.

Yeah, I agree with this, and the site also started off by saying, " I am a researcher and holistic health advocate, not a vet." This just doesn't seem to be saying much of anything, sometimes we see the word, "holistic" and think it means something special, but anyone can use the term, it isn't the same as having credentials. I could call myself a holistic researcher.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Playing with flea preventatives is one thing. Playing with heartworm preventatives is quite another. Fleas do not kill...heartworms do! And I am sure that none of you who would think of cutting doses of Heartgard have considered thinking about how the doses are titrated in each half or quarter.
Sorry, but I am totally stunned that anyone would recommend something like that. I am also honestly shocked that anyone calls Heartgard a poison. I have heard of pups eating entire boxes of that stuff with no ill effects.
Please, anyone reading this thread, if you are considering using holistic treatments for heartworms, ask the people pushing that stuff to show you solid proven research results!
There can be side effects to anything. There are allergies to anything. Does that mean that you are going to stop protecting yourself, your children, and your pups from things that could potentially kill them?

Heartworms do kill, and fleas can also kill. I just (in Dec 08) adopted a Himilayan from the Humane Society. He was skin and bones and totally infested with fleas which caused extremely severe anemia and emaciation. He was in their ICU and they put him directly in a cat box and brought him to me in the reception area. I was worried about stressing him so I didn't even look at him until we got home. His fur was almost completely matted. I thought his skin was brown, (it is white). The flea poo and fleas were so thick it looked brown. I could feel 3 sides of each vertebra in his back, and ribs, hips and shoulders, there was no fat between his skin and bones ... absolutely none! He was as long as the cat box, 2 years old and only weighed 6 pounds, and had caught an Upper Respiratory Infection. I immediately took him to my Vet for a complete evaluation. He has since recovered even though many times I thought I would lose him but he pulled through and is now doing fine. Point: Fleas can kill.

I am not recommending cutting doses of Heartgard or any product than is not cuttable. I am recommending that for the folks who do have small dogs that experience difficulty taking the megadoses of product deemed safe for animals up to 10-20 pounds to consider discussing a plan with their vet to change to a product that can be reduced safely to be as effective and more appropriate for the smaller animal's weight.

Parasiticides - an agent or preparation used to destroy parasites.

If the side effects or allergies are life-threatening, do discontinue use of the product and consult your Vet or Doctor. There may be alternative products/medications that will do the job safely, and your Vet or Doctor should be your first point of contact if any medication, product or food causes an unexpected result in a pet or a human. Either could require emergency medical treatment, so don't dose your pet when you won't be around to watch them for the day, as they cannot tell you how they are feeling ... they can only show you through their behaviors.

[inabowbina]

I live in Illinois currently and during the summer months i give interceptor to my dogs every month don't miss a dose. but during the winter months i really don't worry my dogs are inside and there are no mosquitoes. i find it silly to give it to them during the cold winter months that we have in Illinois.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by inabowbina

I live in Illinois currently and during the summer months i give interceptor to my dogs every month don't miss a dose. but during the winter months i really don't worry my dogs are inside and there are no mosquitoes. i find it silly to give it to them during the cold winter months that we have in Illinois.

I live in Baltimore County, Maryland. It ususally drops to 20 degrees for 2-3 months here on a yearly basis, sometimes colder. Three years ago, when West Nile Virus was causing panic, I went outside in 17 degree F weather and saw with my own eyes a flock of mosquitos flying around near a tree where my dogs like to hang out in the yard (usually in warmer weather). So do that at your own risk. At least treating every other month would still stop a heartworm infection in it's tracks.

[Euro]

I'm confused. I can't remember if I gave my yorkie her heartguard this month. Should I just wait until the 1st of next month , or take a chance of double dosing? She is 4 lbs, 2 years old and the love of my life. We live in Anguilla ,( a Caribbean island ) She only gos out in the day on the terrace with me. Does anyone know or have had this problem in the past?

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Euro

I'm confused. I can't remember if I gave my yorkie her heartguard this month. Should I just wait until the 1st of next month , or take a chance of double dosing? She is 4 lbs, 2 years old and the love of my life. We live in Anguilla ,( a Caribbean island ) She only gos out in the day on the terrace with me. Does anyone know or have had this problem in the past?

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquito bites. I would call up your vet's office and ask for advice.

[Euro]

Thank you .i will

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Euro

I'm confused. I can't remember if I gave my yorkie her heartguard this month. Should I just wait until the 1st of next month , or take a chance of double dosing? She is 4 lbs, 2 years old and the love of my life. We live in Anguilla ,( a Caribbean island ) She only gos out in the day on the terrace with me. Does anyone know or have had this problem in the past?

IMHO, I would wait till the 1st of next month and resume dosing, if you can't figure out if you dosed her or not using your vet clinic receipts.

From: http://www.heartgard.com/SiteCollect...s-for-Dogs.pdf


If the interval between doses exceeds a month (30 days), the efficacy of ivermectin can

be reduced. For optimal performance, the chewable must be given once a month on or

about the same day of the month. If treatment is delayed, whether by a few days or

many, immediate treatment with HEARTGARD and resumption of the recommended

dosing regimen minimizes the opportunity for the development of adult heartworms


.

From: 01 Heartworm: The Parasite - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!



Infecting a New Dog
When a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, the L3 is not deposited directly into the dog's bloodstream. Instead, it is deposited in a tiny drop of mosquito spit adjacent to the mosquito bite. For transmission to occur, there must be adequate humidity to prevent evaporation of this fluid droplet before the L3’s can swim through the mosquito bite and into the new host.
Once safely inside the new host, the L3 will spend the next week or two developing into an L4 within the host's skin. The L4 will live in the skin for three months or so until it develops to the L5 stage and is ready to enter the host's circulatory system. The L5, which is actually a young adult, migrates to the heart and out into the pulmonary arteries (if there is room) where it will mate, approximately 5 to 7 months after first entering the new host.

Note: All commercially available heartworm preventives act by wiping out the freshly delivered L3’s and the L4’s living in the skin. The ivermectin products are also able to kill the younger L5’s.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Euro

I'm confused. I can't remember if I gave my yorkie her heartguard this month. Should I just wait until the 1st of next month , or take a chance of double dosing? She is 4 lbs, 2 years old and the love of my life. We live in Anguilla ,( a Caribbean island ) She only gos out in the day on the terrace with me. Does anyone know or have had this problem in the past?

Ask your vet!

[Euro]

Thank you all so much. Here you can buy Heartguard at the store. I will search for my receipts again. From now on I will write it down. Seems getting old means losing
Your memory.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by Euro

Thank you all so much. Here you can buy Heartguard at the store. I will search for my receipts again. From now on I will write it down. Seems getting old means losing
Your memory.

What store?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Euro

Thank you all so much. Here you can buy Heartguard at the store. I will search for my receipts again. From now on I will write it down. Seems getting old means losing
Your memory.

Every where I have been you need a prescription so kinda interested to know what store?

[107barney]

She lives in the Caribbean, maybe the heartgard is readily available.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by 107barney

She lives in the Caribbean, maybe the heartgard is readily available.

It says sparks,Md USA