Heart Worm Damage - Page 3

I think there are alot of factors to consider on whether to give your dogs heartworm preventative including whether to give it year round.  Things I think of are, is your dog kenneled outside and exposed to the elements moreso than an indoor dog would be? Is your dog an indoor dog and barely out when mosquitos start appearing?  Do you live near a woody or marshy area?  Is your dog truely healthy?  You get where I'm going........I'm of the mindset that the preventatives are a chemical that I don't want my dog to have anymore than I want to put flea preventative on them.  To each his own, we all answer one way or another to the choices we make in life.  I had one dog that lived to 12 and maybe had 5 tablets her entire life.  She got tested regularly but was never positive.  I have two other dogs that don't get the preventative but do get tested bi-annualy.  They test negative as well.  I choose to take care of my dogs in a more natural way but wouldn't and don't scorn anyone that chooses to use all the preventatives that are on the market on their dogs.  With that said, I thought the following link might be useful to those, in the US at least, that might be "in the middle" of wondering should I or shouldn't I. There are alot of areas that it is not needed year round as big Pharma and Vets would have you believe.

www.tibetanmastiff.net/Heartworm.html

 This is also an excellent resource. Not that as climate warms and there is more rain, the likelihood of mosquitoes increases.  There is an excellent article here on guidelines and it would be a good thing for people to read it thoroughly before making a decision about if and how to prophylactically treat for HW.

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/article.asp?id=48

Ivermectin is a good product, used it myself years ago.. also gets to the whips which no other does.....but Ivomec also does a good job.. the dosage is actually quite small.

Incidentally, HEARTworms are carried thru the bloodstream and infest the heart of an animal. They do not spread to other organs... the resulting congestive heart failure would affect everything else, I suppose

 They affect both the heart and the lungs......

Heart, lungs, brain, liver, yes they do spred DKiah.  

You know I get bit all to hell by mosquitoes and ticks,  we have west nile virus, encephilitis, limes (two types), rocky mountain spotted fever and I dont have a preventative...   OH MY GOD!!!! 

I think I'm gonna make a stiff drink and raise the alohol level in my bloodstream till nothing can infect me.

Sorry guys,  Its late, you all make good points.

Cats are infected in the lungs.

regardless of what your pet is on or not on you should get it tested yearly.  Heartgard and interceptor will pay for the treatment of a positive dog if on their product and if tested yearly.  My male who is 6 years old tested positive 1 month ago and because he was on heartgard and I have very good records they are paying for everything. I live in Mo. and work at a Animal Hospital and down here we are seeing a large out break of positive dogs that are on Heartworm preventive.  we have even seen 6-7 month old puppies that show up positive.  we recommend that you put your puppy on HWP by the age of 4 months without a test and after that you have to test your pet first. We see dogs treated with Ivomec come up positive also nothing is 100% you just do your best and hope for the best. Always try to prevent it is cheaper then the cure.

Two Moons, if you should become lyme, h-worm. W Nile, or RMSF positive, will you be opting for treatment or will you just wait and see what happens to  you?

I've heard the story that the ivermectin in horse paste is not evenly distruibted throughout the tube and I've also heard that is impossible due to the way it is blended by the manufacturer. All I know for sure is I do know quite a few dog breeders who use it and, so far so good. All dogs are testing negative, some live in areas where h-worm is very prevalent. I supposed nothing is 100% as Robin has indicated.

Blitzen,

I guess it all depends on the odd's.   I'm more concerned about a heart attack which will either take me or not.  I would have surgery only if I was unable to choose for myself.   Then there is the cancer that worries me,  I would have to know that my chance's were excellent to go through the treatment.  I would die just from being in a hospitol for so long.   I would rather go on my terms, and would probably put myself down if it came to that.    Anything thats treatable I guess like a case of worms is ok , but anything else involving long suffering I will go my way.

I am already waiting to see what happens Blitzen, I know you were just being sarcastic but I am serious as a heart attack.

You already think me strange, yes I am.  

I require a certain quality of life and my own dignity to go on, when thats no longer possible then I have choice's to make.

I kinda wish you hadn't asked me that question.