BritChaser
Well-known member
At annual check up yesterday the vet said he is now recommending an annual heartworm test because there is a growing trend of dogs on preventive getting them.
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Heartworms
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birdshooter
Well-known member
Yeah, the vets always err on the safe side and the annual heartworm test is just something I do for mine.
I have always used 1% Ivermec solution @ .10/cc per 10 lbs of body weight once a month year round. I just give .5 CC for my 64 lbs dog. Squirt it on a piece of bread and he gobbles it up. This amount is more than you would get in a heartguard tablet for heartworm, but it also gets other parasites as well. Vet says it's fine. Same active ingredient in heartguard, but a bottle of 1% solution for $35 will last several dogs for 3+ years.
I have always used 1% Ivermec solution @ .10/cc per 10 lbs of body weight once a month year round. I just give .5 CC for my 64 lbs dog. Squirt it on a piece of bread and he gobbles it up. This amount is more than you would get in a heartguard tablet for heartworm, but it also gets other parasites as well. Vet says it's fine. Same active ingredient in heartguard, but a bottle of 1% solution for $35 will last several dogs for 3+ years.
I use ivermectin as well. Still need to worm them with it though because it won't get everything. My vet mixed me up a big bottle of wormer that I hit them with once every 3 months or so. Mine get into all sorts of dead nasty things.
Much cheaper with ivermectin and as said above you give them a higher dose than what they get in a pill.
Much cheaper with ivermectin and as said above you give them a higher dose than what they get in a pill.
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birdshooter
Well-known member
Ivermec will NOT get tape and whip worms if I'm not mistaken. It will get some others though besides heartworm at the above dosage which is more than needed to kill just heartworm.
If you suspect tape and whip worms then treat with Safeguard.
mY dog get's a fecal exam a few times a year from the vet and they always come up clean so I don't bother with the Safeguard.
If you suspect tape and whip worms then treat with Safeguard.
mY dog get's a fecal exam a few times a year from the vet and they always come up clean so I don't bother with the Safeguard.
UplandHntr
Well-known member
your vet just started recommending the test now? Interesting. Is it because of the area you live?
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
I've used HeartGuard for years. I give it from April through October/November. I do not have the annual test done. I have a very good friend that is a veterinarian in Colorado and he does not believe the test is necessary for my dogs nor is it necessary to have them on Heartguard year round. Not many skeeters up here in South Dakota from November - April.
BritChaser
Well-known member
He mentioned the Mississippi R. valley which is just across Missouri.
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
You can avoid the annual blood test if you run the medicine year around.
The blood test also looks for other pathogens. Lyme (though vaccine probably messes that result up), anaplastmosis, etc
I had a Britt test positive for anaplastmosis (tick borne disease) and she went through an antibiotic treatment that Spring.
I suspect that the majority (can never rule out 100%) of dogs that get heartworn, but are under preventative meds had an owner miss a month on the treatment regimen.
The blood test also looks for other pathogens. Lyme (though vaccine probably messes that result up), anaplastmosis, etc
I had a Britt test positive for anaplastmosis (tick borne disease) and she went through an antibiotic treatment that Spring.
I suspect that the majority (can never rule out 100%) of dogs that get heartworn, but are under preventative meds had an owner miss a month on the treatment regimen.