HEARTWORMS IN DOGS//DOGS TESTING POSITIVE CONCERN - Page 2

Sorry, Yellow, I must have been posting the second half when you were.

I think this is an extension of the original thread but if not, I apologize and some one please let me know; I'll start another. I'm trying to figure out why Ivermectin can kill a positive dog if it's also the treatment for a positive dog?

My dogs have been on heartworm preventative since 4 mos old and I have once or twice each dog tested for my own knowledge...they are all 5years old to 14 years old and none of them have heartworms   I am a breeder and I know my dogs...they are all in excellent health, and work and act like they are 2...You dont need tests when you know you are giving the meds...My vets tell me what to do and I have three of the best....They know I never miss their preventative and I have never sold a pup or dog with any parvo, distemper or Heart worm  positives....My dogs are monitored and if I see any change in their condition I would be at the vets office in a shake of a tail...

I realize not all people monitor their dogs like that.... I cant speak for others.....I just know what I do....and What I have on my premises....I have heard many horror tales of people that claim to give their meds.....I looked at a male once , and immed told him to have him tested for HW and he was possitive....he admitted to me , finally, that he had not been giving him his meds ....for preventative measures...that is why vets dont believe you unless they know you  darn well......

A vet has to protect himself, and also the heartworm preventative vendors wont pay for your treatment if you claim after giving Heartguard or Inerceptor for 6 months and your dog comes up with positive testing , they want proof when your vet sells you the first supply that you had a negative test before they will consider paying for treatment of your animal....

People that are not breeders have to do differntly than I do...I know the protocol....and  I see a lot of unneccessary testing and a lot of scare tactics to german shepherd owners about their  dogs..and what needs to be done..... your dog has hd because he sits sideways....his ears arent going to stand  we need to tape and roll  at 4 mos old....and on and on.....

If people want to pay to test every 6 mos so be it....that s their decission...if they have the money and want to be sure...I dont think it is necessary unless you skip your meds for two or more months....one skip , if you are giving the proper dosage per poundage of weight, is not gonna let worms infest you dogs heart....the meds are still in the bloodstream  as Ivermic is a hard drug  it lingers ....

I live in La and i havent heard of this,...should i be concerned?

Do you have mosquitos in LA?

I see you point about that. Do you know of any reason why large doses of Ivermectin will not kill a positive dog when used as a treatment but small doses would if used as a preventative? I guess my ultimate question is this: Will a preventative really kill a positive dog?

yellowrose....lol mosquitos? the misquito is our state bird!

Hello,

My first time posting here, but I came to Florida 6 yrs ago and never did heartworm checks up in Maine, or preventative, and had no heartworms.  Had ticks and very few fleas.

I just had a 5 yr old bitch, Siren, born here in FLorida, come back positive, and the 3 younger ones were negative.  I put 5 yr old thru treatment, 3 shots over a period of 2 months, and am waiting the 6 months to check her again.

My vet is great, talkative, gives you things to read on net, etc., very down to earth and pet/people friendly.  I AM LUCKY!  Bitch seems to be doing ok, after 1st shot she acted queer, I sorta freaked, but spent alot of time on phone with vet and he reassured me it would be okay.  15 days later I started her on ivomec 1% mixed 1cc with 9 cc propylene glycol and for each 44 lbs of dog they get 1 cc of this mixture.  He breeds German Shorthairs himself, and this is what he uses.

Second set of shots, was the cortisone, on one side of spine and "poison" on other, the next day they get 3rd shot of poison and no cortisone like 1st and 2nd shot.  She had some discomfort after 3rd shot and seemed very sore on her back, no bump no abcess, so we were lucky.

HE told me that he was treating a very lot of dogs this year for heartworm, and that his collegeaue in New York was doing the same, so it is getting more prevalent in all areas.

He also told me that you can give a dog ivomec mix that is positive and not do treatment, but that is not going to kill the adults, just larvae, and not let new eggs hatch.  I opted for treatment, ws $435 including office visit.

Feel free to email me if anyone has a questions or comments

Becky

You have t o be careful when using Ivermectin as a preventative, make sure you are cutting it with polyglycol. Ivermectin straight is very harsh on the liver. Never give Ivermectin to any dog with collie, border collie etc in the line. They tend to have a very severe reaction. I will not use Ivermectin in my gsd, I used it once in one of my other gsd when she was 6 months old, she was neg but she had a serious reaction and I almost lost her.

Using Ivermectin without prior topical treatment for a HW positive dog is playing russian roulette. Never give heartguard or any of the orals to an untested dog.  Contrary to popular belief, Ivermectin Does Not kill the adult heartworm. It does kill the free floating microfilia in the blood and may help reducce the overall lifespan of the adult heartworm. It has also been said to steralize the adult heartworm.When we have a strong hw positive dog, it is put on Revolution, Ester C and Vit B12 as well as Vit E. They stay on this for 3-6 months before starting ivermectin. If you love your pet, you will RUN when the vet suggests using the "Heartworm Treatment". A very large majority of the pets treated with the Immiticide treatment do not survive treatment. They inject the dog in 1 small area of the back next to the spine with Arsenic. It is very debilitating and I have not yet, just my experience, seen a dog fully recover from the treatments. They always tend to seem to be a little more sickly, not as vigoures nor as energetic.

Here is some good information on Heartworms  http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=610

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/article.asp?id=11

Hope this helps

Therese

right info    a lot of vet do this method   it doesnt kill the old they die anyway and as long as you kill the eggs produced th heartworm parent will die anyway......I never had a dog with heart worm but had it explained by vet as to how some vets other than him do it now...

A dog can die of any harsh treatment,,,  if your dog has a weak immune system , heart problems, too fat, weak bladder system  allergies or anything else.,,,,yes  Ivermic treatment with the poison could kill the dog.....

Heavy  dosage can cause problems on any breed or any dog...I only know my bloodlines....

I think you could set dynamite under them and they just say after it went off,,,,,,what was that....and keep on trucking.....lol

To answer the question, will preventative kill a dog that is positive?

IN my experience NO!    I had rescued a 120 lb german Shepherd male, several years ago.   He tested positive.   the estimated treatment for a dog his size was $400 on the low side.   So, after some research and long conversations with my  vet  .   we came to an agreement that we would give him Heartguard  ( the monthly preventative).   Which was to kill the eggs and young heartworms and eventually the adult ones would run there lifecycle and die off anyway.   After a year of giving him  Heartguard, I asked my vet if we should test him again for good measure, and his response was that "  No point, he doesn't have them after a year on the preventative"   He lived an additional six years , added on to his guesstimated age of 6 yrs, when he was tested.   He died when he was 12. 

Also, on a side note to Ivomec the injectable that you give orally.   the dosage for a large male to treat heartworms is about  1/10th of a cc, is enough to treat for the whole month.    You can dilute with Prop.Glyc.  if you choose.  I don't like Prop. Glyc. 

The dosage for Ivomec usage for Heartworm treatment is drastically smaller than the dosage used to treat other intestinal parasites. 

Ivomec dosage is also different when treating for mites.   You would actually treat the dog with almost an entire cc.  for 30 days straight.  It all depends on the weight of your dog.     for ex.    a  6 mo. old shep female I had,   I gave  per instructions from the vet    ( 8/10 ths cc)  for 30 days straight. 

After those experiences with Ivomec, I now use it much like " Yellowrose"  

For me, I can not justify making unneccesary trips to the vet , when there are reasonable and logic solutions, that my vet and I have  come up with over the years of working together.  My vet and I agree on this method and have for several years now.  

I can only offer what I do, and not tell you that you should do this.   Definately talk it over with your vet,and make a decision based on what you are comfortable with. 

Just my input. 

Amanda