Heart Guard Medicine - Question - YorkieTalk.com Forums

gschock7 · 06-23-2014, 12:17 PM

The vet gave me the Heart Guard medicine the other day for Freddy

.
Freddy is 5 lbs. The medicine says "weight 0-25 lbs" that is an incredible range, as far as I am concerned, and since he has already showed symptoms to be very sensitive, I want to know if I can give him his heart guard in stages, over the course of the week. Like 1/4 piece a day. So not to overload his system. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Maximo · 06-23-2014, 07:30 PM

My boys have been on Heartgard for a year and have not had any problems, but they are larger than Freddy and do not have any sensitivities of any kind.

I think you risk the preventative being ineffective if you tried giving it over the course of several days. You also risk having it go bad once you open the package.

It is essential to have the whole dose to be effective: HEARTGARD® Plus | Merial Caribbean

107barney · 06-23-2014, 07:49 PM

If you're not comfortable with the dose (which is fine by the way), you could use Sentinel or Revolution for heart worm protection.

Rachael1983 · 06-24-2014, 08:07 AM

My vet told me it's okay to break up over a 2-3 day period.

Lovetodream88 · 06-24-2014, 09:33 AM

Breaking up the heartguard is not a good idea because the medicine is not evenly spread through the chew. Many dogs are on heartguard many of them are very small dogs and they do great.

megansmomma · 06-24-2014, 09:35 AM

I suggest that you call your vet and ask him this question directly. As you can see there are varying guesses/answers. Your best answer will come from your vet.

Ellie May · 06-24-2014, 10:26 AM

It is not okay to split the dose.

107barney · 06-24-2014, 07:23 PM

I concur that it is NOT ok to split the dose. The heartgard needs to be given in its entirety.

alaskayorkie · 06-24-2014, 07:29 PM

Another question for those with experience with Heartguard:

We don't have heartworm in Alaska, at least not at a rate that vets consider treatment necessary, but we recently went on a trip to an area of California where there is heartworm.

The vet gave me Heartguard to use only 30 days after arriving in California. Nothing beforehand. Does that sound right?

I ask because in the past, the vet used to treat with Heartguard before and after trips. But this time, the vet said the only treatment for heartworm is to kill the eggs, and treatment before the trip wouldn't do any good.

My lil friend · 06-24-2014, 08:23 PM

Hartguard is not a med that stays in the system. Think of it as a wormer. One dose to kill what might be floating around in the system.
Because I have two dogs that are very sensitive they get their doses split in half and it is given to them on the 7th and 8th of each month. I live in a high rate state. I have given Hartguard this way for years.
However DO NOT do this without running it by your vet.
You however can NOT give a half dose one month and the other the next month. The dosage will not be enough or as someone else said the chemicals may not be evenly distributed through out the little chews.

Ellie May · 06-24-2014, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Another question for those with experience with Heartguard:

We don't have heartworm in Alaska, at least not at a rate that vets consider treatment necessary, but we recently went on a trip to an area of California where there is heartworm.

The vet gave me Heartguard to use only 30 days after arriving in California. Nothing beforehand. Does that sound right?

I ask because in the past, the vet used to treat with Heartguard before and after trips. But this time, the vet said the only treatment for heartworm is to kill the eggs, and treatment before the trip wouldn't do any good.

This is correct. Heartworm prevention is actually a treatment (treating with a very safe drug at a very early stage).

Lovetodream88 · 06-24-2014, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My lil friend

Hartguard is not a med that stays in the system. Think of it as a wormer. One dose to kill what might be floating around in the system.
Because I have two dogs that are very sensitive they get their doses split in half and it is given to them on the 7th and 8th of each month. I live in a high rate state. I have given Hartguard this way for years.
However DO NOT do this without running it by your vet.
You however can NOT give a half dose one month and the other the next month. The dosage will not be enough or as someone else said the chemicals may not be evenly distributed through out the little chews.

Will the company still cover treatment for heart worms if there product fails if you have been giving it this way?

alaskayorkie · 06-25-2014, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellie May

This is correct. Heartworm prevention is actually a treatment (treating with a very safe drug at a very early stage).

Thank you!

valeriejsmyth · 08-30-2014, 10:01 AM

My vet said it is okay to cut in half and give smaller portion to my 3 lb yorkie pup. I am wondering if I can split it in two and give each half to my two yorkies. One is 13 lbs and one 3.4 lbs.

Lovetodream88 · 08-30-2014, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valeriejsmyth

My vet said it is okay to cut in half and give smaller portion to my 3 lb yorkie pup. I am wondering if I can split it in two and give each half to my two yorkies. One is 13 lbs and one 3.4 lbs.

You can not do that because the medicine is not evenly distributed through the chew so your dog is not protected.

06-23-2014, 12:17 PM	#1
gschock7 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2014 Location: Bellmawr Posts: 4	Heart Guard Medicine - Question The vet gave me the Heart Guard medicine the other day for Freddy . Freddy is 5 lbs. The medicine says "weight 0-25 lbs" that is an incredible range, as far as I am concerned, and since he has already showed symptoms to be very sensitive, I want to know if I can give him his heart guard in stages, over the course of the week. Like 1/4 piece a day. So not to overload his system. Any thoughts? Thanks!

06-23-2014, 07:30 PM	#2
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	My boys have been on Heartgard for a year and have not had any problems, but they are larger than Freddy and do not have any sensitivities of any kind. I think you risk the preventative being ineffective if you tried giving it over the course of several days. You also risk having it go bad once you open the package. It is essential to have the whole dose to be effective: HEARTGARD® Plus \| Merial Caribbean __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

06-23-2014, 07:49 PM	#3
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	If you're not comfortable with the dose (which is fine by the way), you could use Sentinel or Revolution for heart worm protection. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

06-24-2014, 08:07 AM	#4
Rachael1983 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Burbs of DC Posts: 2,198	My vet told me it's okay to break up over a 2-3 day period. __________________ Owned by Troy(RIP) & Emma

06-24-2014, 09:33 AM	#5
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,249	Breaking up the heartguard is not a good idea because the medicine is not evenly spread through the chew. Many dogs are on heartguard many of them are very small dogs and they do great. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

06-24-2014, 09:35 AM	#6
megansmomma Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL Posts: 12,235	I suggest that you call your vet and ask him this question directly. As you can see there are varying guesses/answers. Your best answer will come from your vet. __________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

06-24-2014, 10:26 AM	#7
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	It is not okay to split the dose. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

06-24-2014, 07:23 PM	#8
107barney T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England Posts: 9,816	I concur that it is NOT ok to split the dose. The heartgard needs to be given in its entirety. __________________ T. Bumpkins & Co. Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy

06-24-2014, 07:29 PM	#9
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	Another question for those with experience with Heartguard: We don't have heartworm in Alaska, at least not at a rate that vets consider treatment necessary, but we recently went on a trip to an area of California where there is heartworm. The vet gave me Heartguard to use only 30 days after arriving in California. Nothing beforehand. Does that sound right? I ask because in the past, the vet used to treat with Heartguard before and after trips. But this time, the vet said the only treatment for heartworm is to kill the eggs, and treatment before the trip wouldn't do any good. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

06-24-2014, 08:23 PM	#10
My lil friend Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: FtWorth,TX,USA Posts: 3,269	Hartguard is not a med that stays in the system. Think of it as a wormer. One dose to kill what might be floating around in the system. Because I have two dogs that are very sensitive they get their doses split in half and it is given to them on the 7th and 8th of each month. I live in a high rate state. I have given Hartguard this way for years. However DO NOT do this without running it by your vet. You however can NOT give a half dose one month and the other the next month. The dosage will not be enough or as someone else said the chemicals may not be evenly distributed through out the little chews.

08-30-2014, 10:01 AM	#14
valeriejsmyth YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: South FL Posts: 428 Blog Entries: 1	My vet said it is okay to cut in half and give smaller portion to my 3 lb yorkie pup. I am wondering if I can split it in two and give each half to my two yorkies. One is 13 lbs and one 3.4 lbs.