PSA - Heart Worm Preventative

[Sandersmr]

Especially if you live in an area where mosquitoes are common and that definitely includes the Gulf Coast in the winter. Please don't forget your pups every month. We missed some this summer and now Jazz has tested positive for heartworms. She's in pretty good shape and we decided to go with the antibiotics for a month and then the preventative should take out the immature worms and hopefully in 6 months she will be heartworm negative.

I will be putting it on my calendar every month and make sure that we have the preventative every month.

[Bethers]

I'm glad it looks like you caught it early - cuz the treatment for heart worm can be tough on the poor dogs. So, yep, it's a med that I say never to forget. (I once was told that the med lasts about 35 days - so if you are late, by a couple days, you should be okay - but skipping, not a good idea. Very good reminder.

And here are big smooches and hugs to Jazz for a speedy recovery.

[Redwahine]

Glad you caught it early and Jazz will be OK

[Redetotry]

Sorry to hear about Jazz I sure hope the treatment is successful.

Like Maggie said, it is important to give the medication EVERY month. But our vet recently told us to be sure and give in ON TIME, that new evidence indicates a few days is critical. I write it on my calendar but there have been months I have missed it by a few days, I am definitely going to try and do better!!! There has a significant increase in the occurrence of heartworm in the last few years even in dogs who have not missed a dose of their medication.

Here is part of an article from this website.
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterin ... es.html#14

Most LOE (lack of efficacy) claims are explained by compliance issues, either between the clinic and the client or the client and the pet. It is possible for an animal to become infected by missing or delayed administration of just one dose of a heartworm preventive product. The likelihood of this occurring is increased in highly endemic areas. Such areas typically have warm temperatures most of the year, an abundance of standing water, and substantial mosquito populations. These endemic areas also have large populations of infected dogs and wild canids available as a reservoir of infection. In addition, manufacturers have improved the sensitivity of heartworm antigen tests over time and more animals with low female worm burdens are now being detected.

The increase in the number of LOE reports to the FDA during the past several years has led to concerns of possible heartworm resistance to the current heartworm preventives....

[mitch5252]

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Dear Jazz,

I hope you get to feeling better real soon.
I'm sorry you're sick.

Love,
Abby

[Sandersmr]

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Dear Jazz,

I hope you get to feeling better real soon.
I'm sorry you're sick.

Love,
Abby

Dear Abby,

Thanks much. I really feel ok, which makes my mommy think this treatment is best. She's not going to make me stay in that big cage for 2 months. Why should I have to go to jail and not Oscar? He wakes her up in the middle of the night all the time!!!

Oh - there is one really good part! I get cheese twice a day now!!!!!!!

Love,
Jazzy

[Acadianmom]

About a year and a half ago our dog tested positive for heart worms. I don't know how the test registers but the vet said it was a very small positive. He was on the heartgard. The vet said they were having cases where it wasn't working and wanted to know if Hank swallowed it whole or chewed it up. I'm pretty sure he swallowed it whole. Our vet is now giving a shot that is every 6 months. He was going to let me return the heartgard I had left and he gave him the shot. I ask if it would hurt if I kept giving the heartgard too and he said no. I started chopping the heartgard up when I gave it to him. When he was tested six months later he was clean. So far the shot has been working.

Martha

[BirdbyBird]

Dear Jazzy,

Glad that you are not feeling the effects and that the treatment regime isn't cramping your daily enjoyment of life. The GHL (gray haired lady) here is not as faithful about those monthly "treats" as she should be but so far we have been okay. Thanks for reminding her that this doesn't just happen to other people's pups. She did pick up some additional 6 months supplies at my November check up with a comment about the temperature of FL necessitating year around compliance. Between pressure from us and your reminder we may have her back on the right track.

Thanks and wishing you a speedy and minimally stressful healing process,

Wiggles, Wags and Woofs.....

Remington

[Sandersmr]

Dear Remington -
Please remind your GHL to give you your treats once a month (whatever that is). However, I am enjoying my doses of cheese every day. I don't get cheese all the time so I don't know what I did to deserve all that cheese.

My hooman feels really bad that I'm sick. I heard Oscar had heartworms when he came to live here, even though he tested negative when he was at the rescue. He said the vet said it takes up to 6 months for the heartworms to show up, or it did with the tests back then. And he had to go to jail for 2 months. He wasn't happy about that because his nickname was Tigger. He liked to bounce then (now he likes to sleep a lot). He couldn't even go out and sniff the grass and you know... without being on a leash.

I wouldn't like that at all. And I get CHEEESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Jazzy