Heartworm meds - Opinion?

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I live in NJ and was wondering if doodle owner keep their doodles on heartworm meds all year.  The mosquitos are non existant now in NJ and both my doodles are finished with their meds.  Should I still continue eventhough there are no mosquitos???

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

We live in Northern Michigan and we use Heartgard Plus year round.  Not so much for the mosquitos in the cold months, but because it also protects them from roundworm and hookworm.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Good point Jennifer...... I just did not want to keep them on meds if they did not need to be on them.

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Also, our vet also does not require a yearly heartworm test if they are on year round preventative.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Sasha's vet tests eventhough she has been on the meds. all year, I asked why and he said just a precautionary thing - I think he just wants to increase the bill !!!  Oliver's vet does not. 

[BG and Gavin]

We don't give meds between November and April as per the vet's recommendations.  He only requires the heartworm test every two years under this medication schedule.

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

I'm really surprised your vet would only do the test every two years. When you test for heartworms in April (or the spring) you are really testing for last years hearworms, as it takes about 6 months for the adult heartworm to develop. So, by testing only every 2 years, you are running the risk that your dog have heartworms and go undetected all that time. Ivermectin (Heartgard) is used in the treatment of heartworm cases, but it does not kill adult heartworms- it only makes them unable to reproduce, but they can still cause damage just being in the dog. My mom just adopted a dog from a breeder and the dog was supposedly on heartworm preventative and tested yearly. The dog tested positive for heartworm (adults and microfiaria) when my mom had only had her about 1 month and then she had to be put through heartworm treatment.

I live in Michigan and I do heartworm meds year round. My dogs get a yearly heartworm check just for the reasons I stated above.  You still need to check for last years heartworm. I do give the meds every month, but sometimes meds don't always work exactly as they should.

From the American Heartworm Society-

The American Heartworm Society is now recommending year-round prevention,
even in seasonal areas. One reason for this is compliance – to make sure the medicine has been
given properly by the pet owner. In addition, most monthly heartworm preventives
have activity against intestinal parasites. Many of these same intestinal
parasites that infect dogs can also infect people, with estimated infections
occurring in three to six million people every year. So this added benefit of
monthly deworming makes great sense.

Annual testing is recommended for several
important reasons. First, many of us do not take our own medications as directed
let alone medicate our pets. We're busy; we forget; we miss a dose here and
there. Second, even if you never miss a dose there is nothing to prevent your
dog from eating some grass and vomiting up the medication you just gave. Your
pet would be without protection for an entire month. Third, if your pet
accidentally became infected with heartworms, your veterinarian needs to detect
it as soon as possible before irreversible heart and lung damage occur. Early
detection and treatment are always best. Finally, some heartworm tests now come
combined with tests that monitor other significant diseases (Lyme disease,
Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis). With annual testing, you know your pet is
heartworm free and not infected with these serious tick-borne diseases, some of
which could affect family members. The tests are quick and accurate and make
sure your pet is free from infection. Annual testing provides peace of mind in
knowing that your pet is free of heartworms, and should your pet be infected, it
assures you of early diagnosis.

 

 

[BG and Gavin]

Sorry, I should clarify :  he only requires that dogs be tested every two years and will still prescribe, but of course it is recommended that the test be done every year.  Our dog is on "Revolution."

[Ginny Nightingale]

Therapy Dog International now requires a test every two years even if the dog has been on the Heartworm med continuously---I keep my dogs on it year round--we have a very damp basement and mosquitoes show up in the house in January. I live way upstate in NY.

[Pauline Rackley]

Just attended a veterinary conference in Raleigh NC and there was a session on this very subject. A DVM and researcher from Cornell University (NY) made the exact recommendations as Angie's vet and for the very same reasons. Also, recent research has shown that there are some microfilaria that seem to be resistant to our current preventatives which is really scary.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Barbara, I personally prefer to keep my guys on HW preventative year round. I would do so no matter where I lived; especially now that it is almost impossible to find Immidicide if god forebid 1 of mine had to be treated.  This year DRC has had a number of HW positive dogs from all over the U.S. that we have had to treat before finding them their forever families.  I personally went through the long grueling experience with our foster, now family, Lacey.

Here is the link to the discussion I posted on DK concerning research I did when Lacey first started her HW treatment.