Heartwrom Test

Kiara is on Interceptor year round

Ann said:
Most vets say now that if you keep your pups on the heartworm med year round they only need to be tested every few years. At my vet, it's 3. We use Interceptor which kills many worm larvae as well.
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Every vet is different but my vet said as long as I keep Kia on the med year round the test only needs to be done periodically. As long as you continuously medicate every 30 days.:cool:
 
Lee, I would recommend having Momo tested again this year since you did not do treatment year round. You want to make sure that he doesn't have it before you start giving him meds. I have been told that if they do have it and you start giving them meds, it may cause serious problem. I would strongly recommend that if you can afford it, to keep momo on Interceptor year round. Then you will be able to have him tested every two years. Also, for any dog owner, I would strongly recommend not using Heartguard. My mom works for a vets office and the vets she works for do not even offer it. It is not as good as Inteceptor or Sentinal. I have also read that Heartguard has the Ivamectrin in it that shelties can have a reaction to. Just a thought for everyone.
 
Yes, I will let Mo Mo do the test, it only charge $ 30.
i live in Toronto, the vet said mo mo only need to that heartworm prevention in summer time. He use the liquid one to put on mo mo's neck. Is it some place is hot all year so need to take the medicine all year round?
 
Dog's can get heartworm from Mosquitoes unless they get a monthly, every six month, or annual heartworm treatment. The test itself doesn't stop the dogs from getting heartworm. You must keep up the heartworm preventative, preferably Interceptor, all year long. The liquid that the Vet put on Momo's neck was probably to prevent flea and tick infestation.
 
Lee Sofa said:
Yes, I will let Mo Mo do the test, it only charge $ 30.
i live in Toronto, the vet said mo mo only need to that heartworm prevention in summer time. He use the liquid one to put on mo mo's neck. Is it some place is hot all year so need to take the medicine all year round?
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I'm interested to know what this liquid is that he put on Momo's neck. I have never heard of such a thing.

As for keeping dogs on heartworm year round it is not only for places that are hot. It sometimes stays warm well into November where the mosquitos can pop back up. I also do it because when it starts getting warm early like it is now in April I don't want to take the chance of the dogs getting it from mosquitos that are out early. Also, like I said, it keeps you from having to test them every year. I would rather be safe than sorry. I have had to treat a dog for heartworm before and luckily we caught it early enough so since then, I have always done year round treatment.
 
this is an articles from web:

Types of Heartworm Preventives
A variety of products are available by prescription only:

oral pill or tablet
- ivermectin
- milbemycin oxime
topical liquid that the owner squeezes from a tube onto the pet's back
- selamectin
- moxidectin
injectable (for dogs only)
- moxidectin
 
I agree with everyone else, year round heartworm medication is very important. Most medications, such as Interceptor, help prevent multiple types of worms - not just heartworms. Some of these worms (ring worms I believe is one) can be transmitted through feces - and we all know how reliable some owners are about cleaning up.

The test (my vet does it bi-annually if the dog is on preventative year round) is only to make sure worms are not present.

As for the liquid medication, the only liquid medication I'm familiar with is a flea/tick preventative - something very important in my area. (I've already seen small black ticks this year.) The only heartworm preventative I'm familiar with is a tablet or an injection so thanks for the information. Personally, I'll stick to the chewable tablet. I HATE applying Frontline (flea/tick preventative) because it's a liquid.
 
I guess it depends where you live. In southern ontario I'm not sure that year round heartworm medication is necessary, since for half the year its too cold for them to spread. Although with global warming, it may be necessary in the future.
 
I just got off the phone with my vet, minutes ago.

Both are one year old and both were on heartworm last year and neither need retesting this year. Both will be on Revolution which is a topical that covers heartworm and fleas (and other parasites - ticks too, I think, but they aren't really an issue in my area)
 
Barb, you're so right!! I just checked it on line and Revolution does take care of heartworm, other parasites and fleas, and it goes on the back of the neck. Lee Sofa, you were ahead of all of us!! They've come up with something new for heartworm and you were way ahead of us, Lee Sofa. I have to ask all of you something though. Does everybody need flea protection? We live in California, in the Sierra Hills at about 4,500 feet, and we've never had fleas here, I guess because it's snows quite a bit here. Do any of you have the same situation? I know that about 15 miles below us they still have fleas.
 
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