CrazyCresties Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 The whole issue of heartworms is new to me and the dogs, having moved from somewhere where it doesn't really occur. I took Louis to the vet today for another issue and asked about heartworm and was told about the annual injections and tablets etc. As I raw feed, I also like to minimise the amount of chemicals I put into them.....is it something I need to be concerned about this time of year? The vet said yes they should be treated all year round, but then they'd also recommend feeding the food they stock So I guess I'm looking for some sensible advice with regards to heartworm and its treatment. Is Perth a high risk area? I don't like the idea of an annual 'preventative' injection - jees how much poison must that put into them I assume heartworms are treated differently to 'normal' worms that you just flush out every now and then? heeeeeeelp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkyTansy Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 CC - the higher risk areas are those areas around water (mosquitos)... I treat to be on the safeside... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I treat mine monthly with the Valuheart tablets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 CC - the higher risk areas are those areas around water (mosquitos)... I treat to be on the safeside... Ditto. I use a heartworm preventative tablet, no way would I ever touch the heartworm injection, but it's personal choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirawee Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Absolutely do not use the yearly injections! As to risk... Perth is actually a fairly low risk area for heartworm. But there still is a risk. Saying that I no longer give my dogs preventatives for it and since I have taken Kinta off monthly tablets and yearly vaccinations she is sounder than she has been for a long time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Absolutely do not use the yearly injections!As to risk... Perth is actually a fairly low risk area for heartworm. But there still is a risk. Saying that I no longer give my dogs preventatives for it and since I have taken Kinta off monthly tablets and yearly vaccinations she is sounder than she has been for a long time! I don't treat for it either - I did last year (can't remember why, someone talked me into it) but all I do now is have a blood test once or twice a year (middle and end of summer when mozzies are at worst) and it's way less expensive to do that as well as less drugs for the dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosepup Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I give Sentinel Spectrum 6 weekly. Absolutely no way would I give the injection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mas1981 Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I treat for it but not every 30 days, we were told by a specialist that the products actually cover them for 45-55 days so I only give Mason his Revolution around every 45 days, we use Revolution as it causes the least reactions in allergic dogs - told to me by the dermatologists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareyJ Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I treat for it but not every 30 days, we were told by a specialist that the products actually cover them for 45-55 days so I only give Mason his Revolution around every 45 days, we use Revolution as it causes the least reactions in allergic dogs - told to me by the dermatologists. That is interesting. We also use Revolution on Leila and the cat on the 15th of every month. I might stretch it out a little....and it will also save us a little bit of money! It concerns me a bit about applying chemicals so regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I've given the Heartworm injection to dogs before with no worries. People panic due to a recall in America years ago of a 'related' product 'not' the same product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 Thanks for all your responses A bit of thinking and researching to do on this one it seems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirawee Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 I've given the Heartworm injection to dogs before with no worries.People panic due to a recall in America years ago of a 'related' product 'not' the same product. Sas, my aunt's dog has major immunity issues that started not long after a yearly heartworm injection. My older kelpie has major muscle issues that also started soon after the yearly injection. Now in both cases there is no proof that the injection caused any problems and there is a good chance it had nothing to do with their problems but due to the timing I am not willing to risk any of my dogs further. If any of them do have a reaction they also have to put up with the chemicals in their system for a minimum of 12 months as apposed to monthly/daily treatments which are in their system for such a lot less time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mas1981 Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 (edited) I've given the Heartworm injection to dogs before with no worries.People panic due to a recall in America years ago of a 'related' product 'not' the same product. Sas, my aunt's dog has major immunity issues that started not long after a yearly heartworm injection. My older kelpie has major muscle issues that also started soon after the yearly injection. Now in both cases there is no proof that the injection caused any problems and there is a good chance it had nothing to do with their problems but due to the timing I am not willing to risk any of my dogs further. If any of them do have a reaction they also have to put up with the chemicals in their system for a minimum of 12 months as apposed to monthly/daily treatments which are in their system for such a lot less time. I was am very unsure regarding the yearly heartworm injection as I have heard a number of dogs having issues after receiving it, dont think I would take a chance to be honest, like Mirawee says if they do have a reaction to the injection it will be a year of misery. Edited September 9, 2010 by Mas1981 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted September 9, 2010 Author Share Posted September 9, 2010 No I wouldn't do the yearly one....really don't like the thought of something in their system that can kill parasites for a whole year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rottsup Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 We gave the annual injections for heart worm along with the C5 every January to our Rotti girl from the age of 2 until she passed away :D at nearly 13 years old. We also gave it to our GSD from 2yo until he was PTS :D with very bad joint problems at almost 9 yo. However the two dogs we have now are almost 3 and 18 months and we love them very much They have only ever had the annual C5 and quarterly "normal" worming.... no heart worming. To start them on the annual injections the vet informed us that as we haven't had them on any heart worm preventitive, he will need to do a heart worm blood test first because if heart worm is present in the dog and the annual heart worm injection is given, there could be an adverse reaction. If you feed raw as we do, the normal worming tablets are a must but I do believe heart worm is only contracted through mosquitos. (Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but this is what our vet told me) Good luck in all of your individual decisions...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vnv Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 The problem is that if you dont use a preventative for heartworm, and your dog contracts it and the larve develop into adult worms inside the dog, it is extremely difficult and dangerous to get rid of the adult worms. Once lodged in the heart, they can cause all sorts of problems but they can also show no symptoms, until the dog drops dead. It has been known as the "silent killer". The larve takes up to six months to grow into adult worms and be accurately detected by tests, so Golden Rules - if you are just testing for heartworm by the time the test picks it up your dogs will most likely already have adult heartworms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted September 11, 2010 Author Share Posted September 11, 2010 If you feed raw as we do, the normal worming tablets are a must but I do believe heart worm is only contracted through mosquitos. (Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but this is what our vet told me) Good luck in all of your individual decisions...... As the mozzie buggers have been biting me non-stop since we arrived, then yes I think I'll treat them with the 45 day tablets. If they're savaging me now I dread to think what they will be like come summer And with Louis being hairless I guess he'll be an easy target as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 And with Louis being hairless I guess he'll be an easy target as well Yes that is something else to take into consideration especially for your Crestie. I have a very hairy dog which perhaps makes me a little more complacent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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