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  1. #11
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    That's what I'm looking for Barb - thanks. I will say there have not been any studies on the use of heart worm meds over long term use. While I don't think a dog would ever die from the preventive itself I do wonder if it can't weaken the immune system over time causing other illnesses to arise.

  2. #12
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    If I had a dog with severe allergies or an otherwise compromised immune system I might worry about the preventative a little more. Fortunately I don't.

    I also want to add that I do not, in any way, advocate that anyone living in the area I do, or even further north, stop monthly h/w meds during coldest months of the year.
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  3. #13
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    You really have to do a risk vs benefit analysis. I posted on this before the board fried, and said something similar.

    I give heartworm meds monthly because for me, the benefit outweighs the risk, even though I am not in an area known for heartworm infestations. The only time I suspend heartworm meds is when my girls are pregnant.

    I believe the immiticide is still on back order, so it isn't a simple fix if your dog does get heartworms. I don't trust the slow kill method, and it would scare me to have to test over and over to see is my dog was "clear" yet. Better safe than sorry for me, oh and I use the active ingredient in Heartgard, and my dogs are on a regular worming schedule for everything else.

    I would give Heartgard Plus monthly Nancy, I really would, if it were me.

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  5. #14
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by charliebbarkin View Post
    I will say this...

    Even my super hardcore raw people that are totally against vaccinating and flea/tick meds still give heartworm meds.
    Had to lol at this. I actually know quite a few super hardcore raw people in my area (midwest) who don't give HW preventative. I give it every 30 days though. Heck, I even got all crazy and broke out the Frontline last weekend, b/c I have already found way too many ticks on my dogs this summer.

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  7. #15
    House Broken LuckyLuna's Avatar
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    I understand where you're coming from Nancy. We lost our 7 year old Aussie to lymphoma 7 years ago. He lived most of his life in the midwest and of course got heart-worm meds except for December through February. But I don't blame the heart-worm preventives for his lymphoma; but rather the cumulative effect of a lot of vaccines that were given annually and way too many in puppyhood as I looked back on his records. His death really changed the way we handle our current dogs.

    Since neither of my dogs really leave Portland at all, it hasn't been recommended by my vet to give heart-worm meds. Maybe that will change in the future. Since the problem seems to be growing in your area, I think I would go ahead and give it; although I'd probably be one to stretch the interval by a week or so.

    I think you can gain some piece of mind knowing that you're only giving the most critical of meds and vaccines; and that you too are doing everything possible right. There simply are no guarantees preventing cancer in humans or animals unfortunately.

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  9. #16
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    I too gave Cooper yearly vaccines for everything including lyme which to this day really isn't an issue here. Cooper was never sick a day in his life until the age of 8 where he was first diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and shortly after that cutaneous lymphoma. I lost him 1 year later. I know we can't prevent cancer, but anything we can do to possibly lower the risk has got to be beneficial. I've been very lucky in the fact that I haven't had to give flea/tick preventative in a 1 1/2 years.

    I want to give the heart worm preventative every 6 weeks, but even that turns up controversial.

  10. #17
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shelley View Post
    You really have to do a risk vs benefit analysis. I posted on this before the board fried, and said something similar.

    I give heartworm meds monthly because for me, the benefit outweighs the risk, even though I am not in an area known for heartworm infestations. The only time I suspend heartworm meds is when my girls are pregnant.

    I believe the immiticide is still on back order, so it isn't a simple fix if your dog does get heartworms. I don't trust the slow kill method, and it would scare me to have to test over and over to see is my dog was "clear" yet. Better safe than sorry for me, oh and I use the active ingredient in Heartgard, and my dogs are on a regular worming schedule for everything else.

    I would give Heartgard Plus monthly Nancy, I really would, if it were me.
    Thanks Shelley - just out of curiosity why not every 6 weeks for this area or even your's? Trying to pick the right schedule for us.

    Nancy
    Last edited by Nancy0; 05-22-2014 at 05:43 PM.

  11. #18
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nancy0 View Post
    Thanks Shelley - just out of curiosity why not every 6 weeks for this area or even your's? Trying to pick the right schedule for us.

    Nancy
    Because the American Heartworm Society support dosing every 30 days, and I can't risk a breakthrough infestation because I can't breed a heartworm positive girl, plus I just plain don't want a heartworm positive because it is preventable. I also test annually, just to be certain what I am doing is working. Thankfully *knock wood* I only have to give (flea and tick preventative) Frontline Plus a couple times spring through summer, because where I field train and off lead hike has ticks.

    Check this PDF out, it is current (January 2014):
    https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pdf/...Guidelines.pdf

    "All orally and topically administered macrocyclic lactone chemoprophylactic products are labeled for a 30-day dosing interval. Beyond this interval efficacy against late fourth-stage larvae declines and is unpredictable. Juvenile worms, which can be found as early as 52 days post infection, are even less susceptible to chemoprophylaxis."

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  13. #19
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shelley View Post
    Because the American Heartworm Society support dosing every 30 days, and I can't risk a breakthrough infestation because I can't breed a heartworm positive girl, plus I just plain don't want a heartworm positive because it is preventable. I also test annually, just to be certain what I am doing is working. Thankfully *knock wood* I only have to give (flea and tick preventative) Frontline Plus a couple times spring through summer, because where I field train and off lead hike has ticks.

    Check this PDF out, it is current (January 2014):
    https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pdf/...Guidelines.pdf

    "All orally and topically administered macrocyclic lactone chemoprophylactic products are labeled for a 30-day dosing interval. Beyond this interval efficacy against late fourth-stage larvae declines and is unpredictable. Juvenile worms, which can be found as early as 52 days post infection, are even less susceptible to chemoprophylaxis."
    Do you think I should just do regular heartgard instead of heartgard plus - one less chemical, eh?

    Nancy

  14. #20
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    I understand your dilemma totally. I have to give heartworm medication - high risk area. You're in an area where cases are on the rise.

    I use homeopathic med's and essential oils for my dogs. I'm not hard core but I think there is some validity. My regular vet is on speed dial. I try to balance everything. I belong to a couple groups, oilers, for both people and animals. There are some really, really, really hard core folks out there. Totally against medications from a vet. Then you get the more laid back (using too many of the calming oils, lol) One consistent mantra in the animal group is everyone in an area of risk administers heartworm meds. Followed by some oils for balancing (I use GIJOE because of the intestinal upset, but hey that's me.)

    I think you just have to go with your gut. I have the opinion I gave polio vaccines to my DD even when there wasn't any polio around because of the risk. Heartworm there is a real risk and I have to do it. Hate it, just hate it. But the disease is much worse.
    Last edited by Grumpy; 05-23-2014 at 07:02 AM.

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