Heartworm Treatment (Important Notice)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Saw this announcement on Cincinnati Dog Pages this evening and thought it was worth sharing:

 

Cincinnati Dog Pages Per Liz, our Consulting Vet... Meriel, the manufactures of the only medication approved to treat heartworm disease (Immiticide), say that this medication is going on backorder and they are not sure when it will be available again. This means that it is very important for you to keep your dogs on heartworm preventative, because if they get heartworm disease, the medication may not be available to treat the disease. Heartworm disease is fatal if not treated.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I give the meds year round. Every now and again you see a mosquito during a warm spell.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, the dose you give them in any given month kills whatever may have gotten into their bloodstream the previous month. So if the first hard freeze in your area occurs in December, you need to give a dose in December to kill whatever they may have gotten from the mosquitoes that were still around in November. Does that make sense?

In my area, it's pretty common to give the last dose of the year in December, and then start again in March or April.

But I do as F does, I give it year round. I don't see the point in skipping it for just those 2 or 3 months, better safe than sorry.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Thanks guys-talking to Dh we used to give it year round-then we changed vets and they stated that it is not necessary living in Wisconsin during the cold months etc. I was shocked to hear this so for the last 2years we are only on 6 months. Our vet doesn't like to be told differently but if they have to drugs to treat it if it happens, then for sure I would go for another round. WTD???

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jennifer, I'm in Northern Illinois, and my vets recommend giving it April through December at the very least, if not giving it all year round. I cannot imagine a vet in Wisconsin recommending it for only 6 months of the year.

Heartworm treatment with Immiticide costs about $1500, even if there is no shortage, so figure out what three extra months of Heartgard costs, or even 6 extra months, and ask your husband which amount he would prefer to spend. That may sway him.

HW treatment also takes months and requires putting your dog through a lot of pain and suffering, risk, and then being kept calm and quiet for the duration.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Thanks it's not the cost, it's the 2 different stories from 2 different vets. Thanks for all the helpful information. We'll have a talk tonight.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Jennifer, I give it year round to be on the safe side.  I'd much rather spend a little extra on the preventatives and be sure they are protected.  Then risk the possbility of them getting heartworms unnecessarily.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I'm going to have to give the better safe than sorry story to him to convince him that our doc's "opinion" is not always the right decision. (like giving Chloe science diet)

[Bonnie & Bodhi]

My concern is giving poison to my dog when it may not be close to necessary. I live on the central coast of CA and it doesn't get very hot for very long. I'm assuming that people who don't give heartworm meds to their dogs all year round live in climate that is cold during those months. I've been giving HW meds to my dog year round but some locals never give it to their dogs.,

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bonnie, this is a very old discussion, from 2011. And ivermectin, which is the active ingredient in Heartgard, is not "poison". It's a very benign (for most breeds) dewormer. Breeders give it to tiny puppies.