heartworm prevention
Hey guys, question for you. What is the preferred method for heartworm prevention here? I just took my pup to the vet for her initial checkup (she is perfectly healthy!) and was told about the heartgaurd and the liquid drop kind they put on their neck. I was just wondering which is better? I think I like the kind they put on their skin better because its tick/flea and heartworm gaurd in one. I just don't like the idea of putting chemicals on her. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Comments
http://www.nihonken.org/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3712
or this snazzy chart from Drs. Foster Smith:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=580&c=9547&
We use interceptor
Most of us that use the flea/tick on a seasonal basis are on the east coast. My mother who lives in California has to use Flea/Tick prevention year round.
KFontaine04: I am located near chicago, IL
Thanks.
Chances are since Namiko is so young (right?) she will not have adult heartworms (which take 7months to mature). Double check with your vet , though.
http://www.dolittler.com/2008/03/22/pet.vet.dog.cat.heartworm.veterinary.veterinarian.html
Just cause they are sold in 6 month packages, doesn't mean that the vet distributes it like that. Our vet will sell you 1 month of any of the monthly med preventative (Frontline, heartguard, sentinel) as puppies can easily out grow the dosage.
I agree with Lindsay that it's probably just a sample treat, as it seems a bit careless to just give away meds and not very profitable for the vet.
Our new vet tested both for heartworm before continuing their preventitive.
The rescue that Henson is in is based in Missouri. They were shocked that I couldn't just go to petsmart and buy some heartguard, because they can down there, without an RX and bloodtest. I assume they assume they will need it regardless in a place where heartworm infection is a regular occurrence.
Up here in PA, its like p-u-l-l-i-n-g teeth to get your hands on it w/o a blood test or RX!!
Our new vet switched us to interceptor because that is what she uses, so after their blood tests they got that.
I also ordered the Frontline Plus.
Steve
We did the initial vaccines as pups, but have been doing titers ever since. The Rabies vaccine is mandated by the states so you can't aviod it, but there is a test going on that will hoefully increase the span between Rabies shots... anyway, definitely keep your dog (and cats) on heartworm prevention as it is a NASTY thing to get. The disease is treatable in most cases, but it's horribly painful so you don't want to go there. Rachel
And your vet is so right, almost everything the dog can carry around can be transmitted to humans. Bacteria, parasites... its a scary prospect!