Guest IrskasMom Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) Morty has not been the last 3 Month on Heartworm Medicin .Do I have to see a Vet to start him up again or just start ??? Does anybody know about that ??? Edited March 14, 2008 by IrskasMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Erring on the side of caution would tell you to get him tested, especially if there is a mobile vet or low cost clinic. At the clinic here it is $20. If it has been very cold you would probably be OK. Just depends if you are a gambler or not -- odds are very good that he is fine, but only you can make the call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trudy Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Yes, you need to see a vet for a heartworm test before starting again if you are not dosing year round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Today's heartworm medications such as Interceptor would be okay to give. It's the old Filaribits that you had to be careful about. You should, however, have the heartworm test performed regardless. We are seeing more and more positive results and that has been attributed to countrywide adoptions mostly from survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 He will need another bloodtest before starting back on heartworm medication. If he has heartworm then taking the medication would be bad so that's why they need to determine if he has hearworm with a blood test after being off the medication for so long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lothianjavert Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 A lot of people do stop it for a few months in the winter since it gets cold here. If so, it's generally recommended to get a test before re-starting, every spring. I give mine year-round, it's just easier to stay on the schedule that way. I also usually order my HW medicine for 6 mo or a year supply at a time. Quote In vino veritasRachael with Rook, missing Sully, Sebau, and Diesel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greyvettech Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 If he has been off of hw prevention for three months, and he did get infected with heartworms, it will not show up on the hw snap test yet- A positive result typically shows up 6 months after infection occurs-We usually suggest, if you've missed less than 4 months, to go ahead and give him Ivermectin .10cc/per/10 pounds-(Your vet can do this) Ivermectin will "back up" the months missed of hw prevention-because chances are if it's only been three months off, he def does not have microfilaria(baby heartworms in his blood sample)So, this will not hurt him-Then in a month, start him back on heartworm prevention tablets such as Interceptor, etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OnOurFourth Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I am curious, if folks are giving heartworm preventative medication to their dogs year round, then is it necessary to get the hounds tested once per year regardless? I have always let my dogs (Greyhounds and German Shepherds) go without medication during the winter months, and test them in the spring before starting up again. We have finally decided to just continue the medication year round, but am guessing that it's still not a 100% thing, that the dogs could still get heartworm regardless and so should still be tested annually? Thoughts on this? Thank you, Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trudy Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I've always been told heartworm testing every 2 years for dogs dosed year round if doses haven't been missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudzu Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 We're in an area with lots of heartworm problems. Mine on on HW prevention year round but we still test annually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lotsagreys4me Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 My dogs are on heartgard year round and I don't retest them yearly. But I live in an area that rarely if ever sees heartworms in dogs. I might discuss this with my vet tomorrow..............thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 We also give HW prevention year round and test annually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest savvyprchick Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I've always been told heartworm testing every 2 years for dogs dosed year round if doses haven't been missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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