Heartworm Treatment

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Has anyone ever heard of treating a dog that has tested positive for heartworms simply by continuing the heartworm medication? I was with the understanding that if you gave heartworm preventative to a heartworm positive dog that it could kill the dog. Apparently it takes two years for the heartworms to be completely gone with this type of treatment.

[MVons]

Yes, it was the weimeramer (sp?) website that mentioned heartguard is a dewormer, and thus "prevents" heart worms developing to the full grown stage in the heart. Here are the notes I made, but failed to note the website.
"We have had many Weims come through rescue that are in poor condition and HW positive. We have started using the alternative treatment under vet supervision as a much safer alternative for at-risk dogs. Using Heartguard monthly for 12 months has proven to very effective. You kill off anything that starts, and the adults die off in the natural life cycle (usually 10-12 month life span). It is so much safer than killing off everything at once and risking clumps of worms clogging the bloodstream. We often adopt out a HW positive dog (who is not showing symptoms), and send 12 months of Heartguard with him. We stress the importance of his meds, and call monthly when it's due. It's not too much extra work or expense and it moves a dog into a forever home."

I'm under the understanding that heartguard kills off any worms that are in their system in the past 30 days. My Vet said it isn't like the old medicine that you couldn't give if they had heart worms. If a dog has been on heartguard for 30 days and given on the exact day each month, then I don't see why a blood test is ever needed.

Merrie

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Thanks Merrie. I did a quick search last night and I couldn't find anything. This dog had been on heartworm all along but from what I understand the medicine was outdated and that might be how she contracted the heartworm. The vet thinks she had a stroke because of this and that would put her in a highrisk category.

[corgimom]

I'm under the understanding that heartguard kills off any worms that are in their system in the past 30 days. My Vet said it isn't like the old medicine that you couldn't give if they had heart worms. If a dog has been on heartguard for 30 days and given on the exact day each month, then I don't see why a blood test is ever needed.

I have often wondered this same thing. I know at my vets office they require the blood test every two years, others require it every year. I have Cody on heartguard every month. My vets office said they still require the blood test because there are those who do forget to give the pills every month even though they insist they have not missed. The blood test checks for lyme disease also(at least at my vets office)

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

Before I started Miss Gambler on Heartgard(now on Interceptor), when she was a puppy, my vet told me of a patient who was devastated to learn that her dog had heartworms and was near death, she had faithfully given the tabs every month the for the dog's entire life. But when questioned, she could not swear that he actually took the the pill. It's a good lesson for me, and I make sure that I give the pill in the crate, blanket out, and I still watch until it's gone. Again, this is a very good lesson for us.

[glencorgi]

Has anyone ever heard of treating a dog that has tested positive for heartworms simply by continuing the heartworm medication?

Yep, sure have. It is one of the "protocols" used in some cases.

I was with the understanding that if you gave heartworm preventative to a heartworm positive dog that it could kill the dog. Apparently it takes two years for the heartworms to be completely gone with this type of treatment.

It depends on a few variables such as the load of heartworms the dog is carrying, if there are microfilaria in the blood stream, age, overall condition of the dog - things like that.

Heartworm *preventative* is something of a misnomer really. Mosquitos are the vectors, they bite an infected dog, pick up microfilaria; bite an uneffected dog and pass the microfilaria along. The microfilaria swim in the blood stream, lodge in the heart where they grow up to be adult heartworms. They reproduce and the cycle starts again. Heartgard, Interceptor and the other "preventatives" kill the microfilaria that might be present thus halting the cycle. They don't address the adult worms that might be present.

The active ingredient in the preventative is also something to take into consideration. Some breeds (Collies, Shelties for two) have ivermectin sensitivity and can't take Heartgard or survive the more traditional (and expensive) treatment. When talking to a local Collie rescue some time back, their protocol for treating heartworm positive dogs was/is to daily doses of Interceptor over a period of time. Preventative is say 99% effective, there is still a remote chance that even with a dog on full time preventative, it can still become heartworm infected, so why the test with check ups.

Debbie

[Penutsma]

Some dogs do not like the taste of Heartgard! I was totally surprised to find that I had one. My poodle refused to take her Heartgard and I had to find an alternative method for her. I tried the Interceptor for a while and am now using Revolution. It is a once a month application (from my vet) that I use for fleas, ticks and to help prevent heartworm. We still use Heartgard for the big dog as that is what my daughter buys. But I stopped buying it for the little dogs - corgi, chihuahuas and poodle. It was a waste of money. I like the one treatment method. This way I don't forget! They all get baths before and cookies after the treatment.

[ColColt]

I just ordered some "Nematodes" to put out in the yard to keep flea infestation down to near zero. They also take care of beetle larvae and anything that lays eggs on/in the ground. I don't know if mosquitoes qualify or not but, I''m hoping they may even kill some of these. Just some preventative measures to take.

[MVons]

I just ordered some "Nematodes" to put out in the yard to keep flea infestation down to near zero. They also take care of beetle larvae and anything that lays eggs on/in the ground. I don't know if mosquitoes qualify or not but, I''m hoping they may even kill some of these. Just some preventative measures to take.Mosquitoes lay on the water. They make a donut shape item to put in a pond to kill the mosquito larvae. Otherwise the key is to not have any standing water. Fill in any dips in the yard, or have your dog splash them out! This includes empty pots, and other hidden puddles.

Merrie

[Fluffypants]

Good advice Merrie. That's something they remind us about every Summer in NY - because of West Nile Virus.

[sutulu]

I protect my two although you don't hear much about west nile here in upstate ny. When I lived in Cleveland they were actually finding cases of west nile in people. We had to collect any dead birds we found, etc.

I was very concerned about it there.

[Fluffypants]

They actually have mass sprayings down here Susan, to kill off mosquitoes & larvae. They always find a ton of dead birds every Summer, and people have gotten it too. It's an annual freak-out.

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

They have found dead birds at my husband's home in CA(sounds so funny to write that, lol) it's a big problem there, and he(we when I'm there) live right on the water. WNV is quite a problem there.

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

Thanks for all the comments. My sil's dog has the heartworm and the dog is only 6 years old. About 7 years ago, My sil had lost all three of her dogs within a few months of each other. 1 to heart failure, 1 to lymphoma and 1 ran out the door and hit by a car. On top of that she lost her mother so I was really concerned about this heartworm for her dog.

On a side note, when I lived in New York, I would put regular skin so soft on Digger because of the mosquitoes whenever we went camping. It seemed to work. They are monsters up there.

[mtoy]

I just got back from buying heartworm meds at the vet's office. Those people make me so mad! I feel like I'm being lectured every time by the pet police about how it is absolutely required that I give Interceptor year round. Poo on them! This is Michigan, it's frozen for many months a year, what idiots! Our fate has been sealed, I'm officially switching both dogs to the new vet.

[corgimom]

I just got back from buying heartworm meds at the vet's office. Those people make me so mad! I feel like I'm being lectured every time by the pet police about how it is absolutely required that I give Interceptor year round. Poo on them! This is Michigan, it's frozen for many months a year, what idiots! Our fate has been sealed, I'm officially switching both dogs to the new vet.

mToy

I am in Wisconsin and my vet does not preach that; he leaves that up to our judgement, but I will say that I do have Cody on it year round - I have seen mosquitos out in February on those rare "warm" days.

[mtoy]

It really steams me when the vets act like I cannot possibly take care of a dog, even though I have 2 VERY healthy teenage boys. The boys' doctors never talked down to me like they do in this place.

The thing with heartworm is that it needs not only mosquitos, but warm temps (57F) for 2 weeks constant to brew the nasty stuff to pass on. Even the warm days in the winter don't do this, at least not at my house. The vets know this.

[mtoy]

mToy

I am in Wisconsin and my vet does not preach that; he leaves that up to our judgement, but I will say that I do have Cody on it year round - I have seen mosquitos out in February on those rare "warm" days.

Oh, and I wanted to say that yes, leaving it up to my own judgement, like your vet, would be nice. What IS it to them, anyway? Heartworm pill sales?

[MVons]

Oh my 57F is warm for winter, we do have a week of that. Right now it seemed pointless to do the heart worm because with no rain for 2 months, no mosquitoes. But one day of rain and the biters are back. If we are in epidemic heart worm by the fall, I'll consider all year long this year.

I wonder if your Vet can tell you why they prefer the brand they sell you? Or better yet, really make them mad, as they created the feeling in you, ask them for a prescription only and fill it at Fosters & Smith!

Merrie

[ZdogZ]

We went to the vet today and had Zip and Zia tested for heartworms. Both tested negative, thank goodness! All three will start taking Iverhart Plus once a month.

[ColColt]

From what I've read, it's not that easy for a dog to get heartworms. So many things have to be just right. I dug that info up and here's what she said...

1) A mosquito must bite some infected dog in the first place.

2)Microfilaria has to develop into larvae which can only happen if the weather stays above 57 deg for 30 straight days.

3)The mosquito must not only still live, but also it's surviving larvae must bite your dog.

"So, your dog must be bitten by a mosquito who picked up heartworm microfilaria from an infected dog and IF the weather co-operates and that mosquito lives long enough and IF the microfilaria could develop into larvae then IF the mosquito should have to bite your dog at the same time the larvae crawled into his mouth and IF the larvae happened to make it to your dogs skin... that's a lot of IF's"

[The Chipmunk's Mom]

The Lady's dog that just was diagnosed with heartworm lived next door to a dog that died from it so that is probably what happened and then the heartworm medication she was giving her was out dated - scary. About 6 years ago she lost all three of her dogs one right after another from lymphoma, sudden heart attack and the last one ran out the front door and got hit by a car. Shortly after that her mother died - tragic so I worry about this dog being ok.

[corgimom]

my SIL dog died from heartworm disease, very sad, I remember the dog having a hard time breathing; and T-Gals Emma had it, not sure if the newer members here heard that story.