Do you give heartworm preventative regularly?

Do you feel its important to give heartworm preventative to your dog each month?  

We gave it witihout fail when we lived in North Carolina, where HW is epidemic.  But since we've moved to SoCal, I have not been giving it.  The first vet we saw here said it really wasn't necessary.

But we have since changed vets, and the current ones we have say its being found more and more in the coyote population in this area.  And there have been a number of Katrina dogs re-homed here that are being found to be HW positive.

So I chose to have my boys tested and put back on HW preventative.   Just wondering what other people do, and why.  

Return to Poll

75%

 (3) 

Yes--I give HW preventative each month without fail.

0%

 (0) 

Yes--but not in the winter months.

0%

 (0) 

Well...I'm hit or miss with it. Mostly miss!

0%

 (0) 

No--I choose not to give it or can't afford it.

25%

 (1) 

No--HW is not a problem in the area of the country were I live.

4 Members voted

[sk123]

Absolutely, Bianca and Sorcha both get Heartgard. You can buy it online for cheaper than through your vet, but you need a prescription. I get mine from KV Vet.

[peekawho]

I want to vent to say that vets make it difficult and expensive to keep your dogs on HW preventative.

I went to a low cost clinic for the tests last week, since I have 3 dogs and you're talking some $$.  Negative.  I took the test results to our vet, thinking I could simply get an RX for the Interceptor or Heartgard.  

Nope.  Our vet will not use the test results.  So I have to pay for each one to be seen and retested.  Our vets rationale?  "We don't know what sort of test they are using, don't know if test was properly done.  We have to do the test and see the results".    

I'm pretty irate.   They are "giving me a break" but I have to pay $35 EACH (usual price $50 each) for an exam, $40 EACH for a new test.  The vet will not charge me for Jakes exam, since he's seen so often.  Gee, thanks.  And then of course, pay for the medication.

I've called a few other area vets, and though some will accept the clinic test results, they must first "see" the dog (ie, I will have to pay for an exam for each) prior to giving me an RX.
And a new patient exam is more expensive than simply going along with what my current vet will charge.  

I'm using my current vet, but I'm angry and resentful, and will make sure they hear about it when I go tomorrow.   They have you over a barrel when it comes to things like this.  

(end of rant.  I feel better)

[Jaybay]

In Texas you can order heartworm meds online without a scrip - even rabies and bordatella vaccines if you aren't needle-shy.  BUT - you must keep a written diary of lot numbers, date of injection, etc.,  for law enforcement in case the dog ever bites someone.

[sk123]

Is there a Banfield Pet Hospital near you? It's a chain, so the quality really depends on the particular vet there. I love my vet, Dr. Yoon, at the Banfield in Dublin, CA. For this plan, you pay a monthly fee for each dog (there are discounts for those of us with multiple pets) and all the preventative exams, vaccines, etc. are covered. As your dog moves up in age, you can pay a higher monthly fee for more comprehensive exams that include urine tests and such. But right now, I pay about $40 for both dogs per month. All of their exams are covered, so if they don't feel well, off to the vet. No poop for a day, off to the vet. Tail down, off to the vet. Nose dry, off to the vet.

I don't hesitate to take them back in for their follow-up appointments either. Before, it was, why go to a follow-up exam and pay another $40? But now it's all included!

Unfortunately, their medications aren't covered. You usually get a discount, but it's still expensive.

[AHP84]

I do HW preventative treatment myself with Ivomec. It's much cheaper than buying Heartgard. A bottle of Ivomec cost me $45 and it will last me for probably three years or more, because I only give the dogs a dose of a few CCs once every 40 days.
I got them the HW tests at the vet, and then started treating them myself instead of wasting tons of money on Heartgard.

[peekawho]

How'd you get the RX for Ivomec?  

[Misfits4Me]

If you dig deep enough you will find that Heartworm Preventatives are made to be effective for 6wks., Not 4....... Another little tidbit that we're not suppose to know! The reason they are recommended every month is it's easier (For us humans) to keep up with a calender by month. What's actually happening here is that you are double dosing for those two extra weeks, which IMO is just more unnecessary toxins in our furkids systems. I give Interceptor every 6 wks. and usually pull back, for a few months, if the winter is harsh........Karla

[AndiJ78]

I live in an area where none of the vets recommend it. Seems the mosquitoes cannot make it over the mountains and so few cases have been reported from "transplant" dogs it is unnecessary. I am sure one day it will be, but for now I am thankful.

[Jaybay]

Down here in the fetid sewer called Houston, we have the skeeters year 'round, so our dogs need constant protection.  We've used Sentinel for years with great success.  In addition to being a HW preventive, it renders fleas sterile.  As long as we keep up with regular bathing during the summer, we've never had a flea problem.

[RockRose]

I live in Austin,  where mosquitoes are less common,  and we live in a neighborhood where it's VERY unlikely that anyone's dogs have heartworms.    A mosquito would have to bite an infected dog,  and then bite my dog,  and frankly that a mosquito would actually bite TWO dogs in my neighborhood is rare - the houses are far apart.  

I've lived here since 1986,  had many dogs,  never used heartworm preventative,  never had a heartworm positive dog.

[peekawho]

RR--do you test, though?

[Jaybay]

RockRose - don't forget about the large coyote population out your way that probably do have heartworms.  My cousin has 13 dogs out between Seguin and Austin - not all that far from you - and every last one of them has heartworms.  Her excuse is that "it's too expensive to treat them all."    How about not having 13 dogs instead and keeping only the ones you can afford?  GRRRR!!

[dominosarah]

I give my beagle Heartgard every month all year long.  We have more and more cases of heartworm showing up here in Southern Minnesota so i wont take a chance.  Our mosquitos are the size of ducks anymore so i wouldnt be able to live with myself if something happened to her.  

[ne55]

I was told by my vet that the reason they do a  bloodtest is for the company that manufactures the hw preventive, so you cannot sue the company for the product not working as the dog already had them before the vaccine was given ...

ne55

[AHP84]

You don't need a prescription for Ivomec. Just go to a local feed-and-seed or co-op and pick some up--farmers need it on hand for their livestock, so it's non-prescription.
Also, Ivermectin is the active ingredient in Heartgard.
You dose the dog by weight with a tenth of a CC per 10 pounds of weight. You do this every 6 weeks.