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Ask the Vet About Heartworms in Dogs and Cats
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Can a 11 weeks 10Lbs Golden Retriever puppy take heart worm chewable tables?.. If yes.... Which one. Thank You very much
Some are not labeled for use in puppies that young (Bravecto) but some are : Nexgard is the one I recommend for most puppies. Here is a link if you would like to read about it: https://www.1800petmeds.com/NexGard+Chewables-prod10356.html
Does Advantage II protect against mosquitos
The canine (dog) Advantage II is labeled to protect against mosquitos - the feline one is not. Neither is a heartworm preventative.
Can I order flea medication like trifexis without my fig being tested for heart worn disease? Or should he be tested before taking the flea medication.
It is ideal, especially with Trifexis, for your dog (or fig, lol) to be tested.
I currently have a 6 month old puppy, He had his first Heartguard dose at 4 months old on 4/15. I have missed the next 3 doses by accident. Is it safe to give him the next dose without a blood test?
If he got one at 4 months and he's only 6 months, he only missed one so yes, it is safe (and recommended) to keep giving it. Even if he is 8 months, which it sounds like he is, if it is heartgard, you restart him immediately and test in 6 months (they won't test positive until 6 months after the missed pill.)
Can I get sentinel chews for my 7 year old 60 lb lab cheaper then vet.?
Here is a link to Sentinel, with the prices: https://www.1800petmeds.com/Sentinel-prod10118.html
My do has been on Simparica Trio for six months. The vet will not renew the subscription without a blood test. If we have never missed a dose, why is the blood test necessary? My dog is extremely difficult at the vet and requires sedation; even then there is no guarantee they will be able to draw a blood sample. I would just like to purchase the product to continue her protection.
A prescription, legally, in veterinary medicine, must come from a doctor that has met your dog face-to-face. Your best bet is to try to talk directly to the doctor that saw him/her last about how difficult s/he is to draw blood on and, if you bought the prevention from them like 12 months ago and it has been 12 months, then it is documented that you are giving it monthly. (This is not ideal because we worry that some dogs don't absorb it properly or hide it or their dominant sibling snatches it, etc etc. so it is ideal to test about once a year so some veterinarians are uncomfortable doing this but they probably dread the blood draw as much as you do, lol.)
It seems that most of the heart worm preventatives are broad spectrum with other worms and parasites treated also. Our dog is 112 lbs of sloppy love who has a sensitive stomach and has a history of vomitting, shaking, and being generally miserable with broad spectrum parasite prevention. We live in a well groomed private gated community in Florida. The dog walks on sidewalks and all properties are well groomed. We want to protect against heart worm with the minimum amount of chemical. Is there an oral pill with just heart worm prevention? We will take our chances with other parasites!
Here is regular heartgard (vs Heartgard Plus that covers intestinal parasites): https://www.1800petmeds.com/Dog+Heartgard+Chewables-prod368151.html (But honestly, I've never, in >25 years of practicing, seen pyrantel pamoate upset a stomach, which is what the "Plus" part is, so he probably has more of a problem with the beefy chew part of the preventative.)
Hello doc, I have an approx 13 yr old, 60 lbs Australian Shepherd mix rescue. He is heartworm positive and the vet suggested the shot treatment but I've seen a lot of negative reactions with senior dogs and I'm afraid of how he'll react to the treatment. She also prescribed Advantage Multi which he has now been on for a year since finding out he was positive, though I did notice he started trembling a tiny bit from time to time albeit his breathing improved, he eats and drinks water normally and still loves his long walks. My question is, how risky is the shot treatment for his age and breed? And is there a better preventative to use for his breed/age should the treatment be too intense for him? Thank you!
It's impossible for me to guess how he'll do with the treatment - but your veterinarian will be able to better tell from bloodwork (that checks his liver, kidneys, etc.) and x-rays of his chest (to determine the severity and rule out things like heart enlargemnt, etc.). These tests are what will tell you if he can handle the treatment or not.
I got my puppy back in October at 3 months and he was taking heartguard. I didn’t realize it was a monthly medicine. It’s been 6 months so hes 11months now. Is it okay to jump back onto the medicine or should i get my dog tested? He has no symptoms of heart worm disease and is still an active puppy.
It is ideal to test now and again in 6 months and start back immediately.
How does Heartguard vary from Triheart?
Not much: it is the same active ingredient, but made by a different manufacturer.
My dog tested positive for heartworms and I'm wanting to know the best alternative treatment for this. I don't want to do the shot as I have an energetic dog who will not sit in a kennel or anywhere for that long. I also work a full time job so I cannot always keep him inside as I don't work from home either. My dog is on Trifexus currently and I also have the antibiotics that are needed before getting shots, so i'm unsure if those are even needed if I am wanting to do an alternative method of treatment.
You definitely don't want to give Trifexis - only use an ivermectin based heartworm preventative like Heartgard. Here is a good article about treating heartworms, written by another veterinarian, from a site that I trust - she discusses the alternative method of treatment for heartworms in the last paragraph: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951486
I have 2 dogs. One is a 7 year old female pomsky weighing 37 lbs. named Starla that I have had since 6months old. The other dog we rescued at 5 months old and has now just turned 1 year old. He is a carolina dog weighing 52 lbs. named Rocket. The rescue group gave us a supply of Heartgard for Rocket when we adopted him. He just took his last dose. For next month, I was thinking of switching him to Sentinel, as this is what Starla has been taking her whole life and seems to do well on it. Sentinel comes based on weight. The box we get for Starla is for the weight group of 26lbs - 50lbs. Would this be ok for Rocket, too? Or is the 2 lbs. over significant? Thank you!
Get him the appropriate weight range, so 51-100.
My husband and I recently rescued a carolina dog named Rocket. He is currently 1 year old and just weighed in at 52 lbs. We were given Heartgard once monthly for him from the adoption agency but now we ran out. Our other dog (7 year old pomsky female named Starla) has been taking Sentinel monthly her whole life for heartworm prevention and has never had a problem, so we'd like to switch him to that so they're on the same thing. My question is about the weight recommendations on the box of Sentinel. The one we have buying for Starla is the 26-50lbs. box because she is 37 lbs. Since Rocket is 52 lbs. can he take this, too, or does the 2 lbs. really make a significant difference? Thank you for your help!
I can't recommend underdosing like that. Call and speak directly to the manufacturer for the best advice - their contact information should be on the packaging or package insert.
My dogs take heartguard and I cant remember if I gave it this month. Was due on the 10th, now the 27th; should I give it now in case if missed it or wait? Thank you!
It would probably be safer to go ahead and give it. Call and speak directly to the manufacturer if your pet has any health issues or is a breed that might be sensitive to the ivermectin active ingredient. Their contact information should be on the box or on the package insert.
My chihuahua got into the cats wet food. I didn’t think about her having a bad stomach reaction as I looked at the calendar and realized it’s been 30 days it’s time for her pill I gave my dog her interceptor she ate a few pieces of kibble additionally . About 20-30 min later she threw up. I did try and see if I could find it in the vomit(gross) as she swallows it/won’t chew it. I did find cat food and a piece of kibble but nothing definite the pill . Should I give her another dose? If so should I wait a day or so?
Call and speak directly to the manufacturer for the best advice - their contact information should be on the box and/or package insert.
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