What heartworm med do you give?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by southernbelle04

We use Heartguard too for Katie Scarlett. She absolutely loves her chewable. She gets what we call the Heartguard Zoomies after eating hers. She runs around the house for about 10 minutes. It is so funny! We have been just buying them one at a time from our vet, but I need to get a 6 pack. We do one on the 23rd of each month.

Thats what we use to, and it's such a pleasure giving them something they like. However, I'm concerned about these Zoomies as you call them, does she ever do that after other treats? I think I would ask the vet about that, and also monitor how long it lasts. Sometimes allergies can act up as lots of energy, its not a good energy, but a nervous energy. The problem with this, is it can get worse with each dose.

[kjc]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Chew, shot, or topical? ?

Topical: Revolution... beware the shot: last I heard it was being taken off the market due to too many adverse effects (ie: death)

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

About how much do you pay for them??

$90.00/6 months/120 pounds : I split it out (as per my vet instructs) it's enough to treat 4 small dogs and 3 cats for 2 years.

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Do they take the chew or do you have to trick them??

PIA: major battle: mine hate the chews

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Do you give it year round or just in the summer??

Year-round

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Should I be doing it year round??

Yes, or every 6-8 weeks

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I've actually never done heartworm preventative! I live in southern Cali, and while we don't get a ton of mosquitoes, we do have them on occasion. Uni is not on a flea preventative either. I have only seen fleas on her a few times when she was a pup.??

Revolution also kills fleas and mites, so you only have to purchase one product, and you're only giving her one product.

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I read you should do bloodwork before giving the preventative in case they are already infected, is this true??

Yes, and yearly thereafter

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Uni is due for her yearly well visit anyway. Any other questions I need to be asking the vet I may forget?

Maybe do a general bloodwork panel to check her health... some do this yearly (unless recently done) or every other year.

[yorkiemini]

We use Revolution also. For heart worms, ticks, fleas, mites - in one application to the skin. Never had any bad reactions and blood work is always good. I buy for a year - expensive I know but I get two free months that way.

[kdhawks]

Levi gets the heartworm blood check yearly. We use Sentinel monthly for heartworm prevention. Price varies by where we buy it - usually $60-$70 for a 6-month pack. We also use Frontline Plus every month for flea prevention, which runs probably $50ish for a 3-month pack. We use both products year-round.

Meds are cheaper if I order them online...but I usually forget before it's time to re-order, and end up buying from my vet.

[BLowry]

I was using heartguard...Lillie would throw it up...They switched both girls over to interceptor...My sister in law had their shepherd/mix get the shot, years ago when it first came out...she got very sick and died...I won't do the shot.

[Maximo]

We use Interceptor year round (covers more than just heartworm) and we do annual blood tests.

ETA: Teddy hates it and manages to spit it out when I put it down his throat. Max eats his right off the plate, lol

[Schooby]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Chew, shot, or topical? About how much do you pay for them? Do they take the chew or do you have to trick them? Do you give it year round or just in the summer? Should I be doing it year round? I've actually never done heartworm preventative! I live in southern Cali, and while we don't get a ton of mosquitoes, we do have them on occasion. Uni is not on a flea preventative either. I have only seen fleas on her a few times when she was a pup.

I read you should do bloodwork before giving the preventative in case they are already infected, is this true? Uni is due for her yearly well visit anyway. Any other questions I need to be asking the vet I may forget?

I give Chase Trifexes. It's for heartworm and fleas, and it's a chew (well, chewable pill). He will eat it without spitting it out. I pay $18 per pill.

Calvin gets Sentinel. It's for heartworm and stops fleas from reproducing (I think?), and it's a chewable pill too. Sometimes he will eat it, sometimes he spits it out. Since they get them with dinner, I just dab some wet food on it and he will eat it. His is $15 per pill.

They get them year round, and also get a heartworn test every year just to be safe.

[CruiserCody]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Yes I was doing some reading today, and to treat would be about $1000 easy, and even upon recovery, they could still die while with worms are being killed off.
the guarantee is interesting, thanks for bringing it up. I will def be talking to my vet about that.

Many, many years ago we had a dog with heart worms (back then I don't think there was medication- at least no vet ever told us about one). It's an awful thing and very expensive. Our dog survived the treatment (and died many years later of old age) but I'd never take a chance and put a pet through that again!

Both Cody and Cailee are on Sentinel.