HEARTWORMS IN DOGS//DOGS TESTING POSITIVE CONCERN - Page 4

Isnt Demodec hereditary? I have always been told that it is passed thru the generations, usually by the sire and you can never get rid of it. It does go into remission tho and only flares up when they are under stress such as weaning, maturity, drastic change in environment etc. In some dogs it never goes into remission and they end up with a secondary skin infection that becomes systematic. Thats what the vets have told me anyways. I have had to put more than 1 litter down due to demodec and the inability to clear it. They were rescues and already in deplorable condition when they came to me.

Therese

Dermadectic is a headache to describe .....Every german bloodline contains the nasty thing   its a mite..lays dormant   ,,,,,when our high drive high entense dog get stressed, especially when teething, a reaction of the immune system may occur....and you get a case of it........Vets use to scare the pants off of their clients and cause many a breeder a horrible nightmare......the new pup from Iska v Kapbush and Lago v Iskern had a bout with it 5 months ago when she was 10 months old...she is in training and wants to be intense and wants the bite and not ready for it....she was teething and there it happened.....My Bear out of Uran v Wildsteigerland and Korbelbach had a bout with it and his litter mate had it also....one male out of Tiekerhook had it,....and one out of Arminius and Timo de la Serena had it....it pops up and you deal with it and go on....Never reappeared on any of mine,, but I have to check Bear as Im not the one that treated him     Petsmart clinic did and that is a red flag for me..........Several of my pups out of totally different bloodline had it , and it was treated one with the Ivermec and one with a holistic approach...

I live in NJ and we have not seen any positives yet this year, however we are in the very peak of our mosquito season now, and dogs won't test positive for another six months or so.  The only positives that we see generally are dogs coming up from the south, the last ones I remember was a Katrina dog and a rescue Basset.  We still recommend testing every two years if on prevention, if this is the case

Before you all jump all over the vets for  to make more money on wanting to test more frequently.  :).  It's not a real concern here in NJ, plus most dogs are on prevention which I believe makes a difference.  There's also not a high number of dogs roaming around either.  I belong to another board where this same question was posted and several who live in mosquito prone states have come back with heartworm positive dogs while being on prevention.

And yes it it safe to use both Interceptor and Heartgard on a heartworm positive dog.  Be careful with the dosing of Ivomec also.  We use it to treat mange (both kinds).   Just check with your vet to make sure that you are giving the right dose.

Just my two cents.

I get my meds from petmeds online and use the Interceptor- monthly dosage.  On my last reorder, the vet called me back before letting petmeds place the order to inform me that from this point on, I will have to have my dogs tested also every 6 months before they will okay the order.  I live in Virginia and mosquitos are terrible here in the woods by the creek.

I don't like spending money unneccessarily but, if it prevents my dogs from becoming ill, I'll spend whatever I need to.  I keep Frontline Plus and Interceptor on my dogs year round.  Ticks are vigilant here and live throughout the year, especially in the woods where we are. 

Thanks for all he replys.  very informative !!!

Again,

Thanks,