Heartworm Blood Test

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by MY OSCAR

we do have a huge mosquito problem but we also have short and often
dry summers so the bugs are not around long .
i don't want to take a chance with my dogs so that is why i give them the
heartguard yearround.
i don't do the test every year because it is very stressful on my dogs going to the vet .

It maybe stressful but there are things that can be use to ease the stress and it would be much worse to have heartworms. I am guessing then that they don't get a yearly check up then?

[MY OSCAR]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

It maybe stressful but there are things that can be use to ease the stress and it would be much worse to have heartworms. I am guessing then that they don't get a yearly check up then?

no they don't , but they go to the vet anytime i think they have a problem.
our vet is two minutes from our home.
i even have my vets home/cell phone #
trust my dogs are far from being neglected.
i take better care of my dogs than some human beings take care of their children

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by MY OSCAR

no they don't , but they go to the vet anytime i think they have a problem.
our vet is two minutes from our home.
i even have my vets home/cell phone #
trust my dogs are far from being neglected.
i take better care of my dogs than some human beings take care of their children

Not getting a yearly check up is very risky especially if you do have a mosquito problem. Dogs can still get heart worms on heart worm prevention. There are things you might not normally see or know about that a yearly check up can pick up on. Why risk it?

[MY OSCAR]

Originally Posted by lovetodream88

not getting a yearly check up is very risky especially if you do have a mosquito problem. Dogs can still get heart worms on heart worm prevention. There are things you might not normally see or know about that a yearly check up can pick up on. Why risk it?

thank you, i truly respect your opinion but i do what i think is best for my dogs.
Since we could go back and forth like this all day i think we should just leave it at that.
Have a wonderful day..

[mky]

Our vet here does the test for heartworm every year, before issuing a new prescription for heartguard. Years ago when we had a german shepard mix, honey, (she is at rainbow bridge now) our vets (we moved a few time so we had more than one vet for her) only tested at the first appt. or if there was a break in giving the preventative.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by mky

Our vet here does the test for heartworm every year, before issuing a new prescription for heartguard. Years ago when we had a german shepard mix, honey, (she is at rainbow bridge now) our vets (we moved a few time so we had more than one vet for her) only tested at the first appt. or if there was a break in giving the preventative.

Yeah, I think that may have been before they were aware that a dog could still get heartworm even on the preventative. The testing just doubly protects your baby, just in case . . .

[107barney]

The American Heartworm Society recommends annual testing along with what seems to be the entire veterinary profession. I have blood work and annual check ups ony dogs which includes HW testing.

[Ellie May]

Standard of care is giving preventative year round with annual testing. That is what we do. We do a little bit of Bloodwork on top of that and and usually a urinalysis. Fecals are done yearly even with no symptoms. rentals as needed for us. Exams at least once a year. Dogs age much faster than humans and I see my doctor at least once a year. Auscultation and palpating are hints owners aren't trained in.