I'm a bad mom

[AdoreMyDogs]

I forgot Graham and Kersey's heartworm preventitive this month and actually June too :( I have been so busy and I can't believe I forgot about their preventitive. I feel terrible. I would have remembered if I put those little Interceptor stickers on my calender, but I never did until yesterday. I remembered yesterday that it seemed like it had been awhile since their heartworm meds and so I went back on the calender hoping to find an Interceptor sticker on late June but I realized that I didn't give them their heartworm meds since mid to late May :(

I am concerned because there were SOOO many mosquitos when we went on vacation and I know they must have been bitten hundreds of times, even though I had bug spray made for dogs on them.

Should I be worried about heartworm even though I gave them their pills yesterday? I also marked my calender every month so it won't happen again. Does anyone know if they did by chance get bitten by a bad mosquito if giving them their Interceptor pills yesterday would clear up anything that was starting to form?

I feel so bad :( I have just had so much on my mind the past couple of months but I know that's not an excuse to forget about heartworm preventitive :( I sure hope that my scatter brain do not cause them to get heartworm.

[Logan]

Settle down, Mom. We all forget, I promise. Give it to them right now, if you haven't already, and call your vet tomorrow, just so you'll know if there were extra risks because you went on vacation. Something tells me that both of them will be just fine.

Logan :)

[Pam]

Leslie with all you have got going on in your life right now, it is no wonder. Logan, is right. I would think a call to the vet would clear up any concerns you may have and put your mind at rest. Now with your upcoming move, it will be your BODY that needs rest shortly! :D

[jackiesdaisy1935]

Leslie, I agree with the rest, I would call to see if he wants to take a blood test to be sure, or then again he may say they don't need it. My goodness, you are so busy it's no wonder you forgot, agree with Pam, you had better get all the rest you can before the big move.
Jackie, Miss Daisy and Perry

[purrley]

Leslie: You're not a bad Mom - in fact you are the bestest Mom in the world. Your babies will be just fine, don't you dare worry, you've had enough on your plate and good stuff has only just begun to happen. I know your darlings will be just fine;) ;)

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hey Graham & Kersey ~

Dad found this on the Interceptor site...

"INTERCEPTOR Flavor Tabs must be administered monthly, preferably on the same date each month. The first dose should be administered within one month of the dog's first exposure to mosquitoes and monthly thereafter until the end of the mosquito season.

If a dose is missed and a 30-day interval between dosing is exceeded, administer INTERCEPTOR Flavor Tabs immediately and resume the monthly dosing schedule."

Above taken from:
Interceptor Site (http://www.petwellness.com/dog_inter_disc.asp (http://www.petwellness.com/dog_inter_disc.asp))

Interceptor has an 800# where you can talk to a specialist (I *think* she said "Doctor" when I called) - it's 888-327-9745.

She said missing ONE dose - *IF* the dogs have been on Interceptor for at least 6 months prior, and CONTINUE to receive it at 30 day intervals, will probably not be a problem. She advised contacting you Vet to discuss the situation.
She also advised that you will have to wait 6 months before a heartworm TEST will be worthwhile.

Sounds like the FurKids are not in great danger. :)

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Leslie, I don't think Kersey and Graham are in danger of getting Heartworms. If they were outside dogs, then I could see why you would have to worry. But they are inside dogs.

Drake gets his HW preventative in a shot that last 6 months! My vet send me a weekly reminder a month prior to the date Drake's supposed to get his next shot. It costs just as much as the tablets do and it is more convenient and easier to remember.

[aly]

Psssst Leslie... I've forgotten before too... shhhh :)

You're a great mom and I'm sure the dogs will be fine. A heartworm test probably wouldn't hurt though (I guess you have to wait 6 months though after reading Phred's post).

Souraya - my dogs are now on the heartworm shot too. I had some concerns about it at first but my vet assured me (after 40 minutes of talking) that it would be safe. Have you ever heard anything bad about it?

[Sudilar]

The 6 month treatment has been discussed on the liver bb. They are against it, too much medicine at one time. Maybe for healthy pets it will be ok. I deleted their discussion about it so I don't have their arguments against it. I never had any intention of giving it to my dogs, so I didn't pay attention. On the liver bb, though, they are wary of many meds. (rightly so, I must add.)

[AdoreMyDogs]

I will just die if they get heartworm because I forgot to give them their meds. I bet each of them had 100 mosquito bites from our Beaver Island vacation :( I am so worried I can hardly stand it. I gave them their pills as soon as I remembered, but I am so terrified that it's not soon enough and I will end up causing my furkids, my most precious babies, to have to be treated for heartworms. I called the vet today but they were in a staff meeting so I will call tomorrow and get ahold of a vet. I am so worried :( It was the very worst time to forget and I feel terrible. I'll let you all know what the vet says. Thanks for the nice words, but I am terribly worried.

[mugsy]

I'm sure they will be fine. Look how many strays are out there for God only knows how long and they don't get it...sometimes I think it's luck of the draw.

I talked to our vet about the bi-yearly shots and he too advised against it. Nothing medically, but interceptor controls all of the kinds of worms (except tapeworm) and the shot doesn't...it just works for heartworm and it costs the same amount of money. So, we decided to stay with the pills.

Leslie, call the vet tomorrow and I'm sure they will reassure you. Pssst....I'd be worried too though, so I'm a good one to say don't worry! lol...but...I've never had reason to worry when I did!

[anna_66]

Don't worry:) I know, easier said than done, but we all forget now & then. I was a couple of days late this month and kinda got scared, so I understand your fear, but after reading Cinder & Smokes message, I feel better. Our dogs have always been on Interceptor so.....guess they should be just fine, just like your dogs will be!!!!

[purrley]

OH LESLIE - You worrisome MOMMA you - your babies are going to be just fine, I just know it!!!!! It's always a good ideas to ease the mind though. After all you've been through with your sweet Graham, it just can't happen that you need to have more worries.
Let us know what the vet says. God Bless Ya!!!!!

[AdoreMyDogs]

I am just sick with stress! I won't know if my babies have heartworm until 6 months from now, because it takes that long for the worms to develop enough to read on a test. I am just sick. I feel like I have abused them, but there's nothing I can do now. I am just disgusted at myself for forgetting their preventitive. Thanks for the kind words everyone. If they do have heartworm I may just die of a broken heart though :(

[anna_66]

Please don't worry, I'm just sure they are both going to be just fine!

[aly]

Leslie!! From one worrying mom to another, your dogs will be fine! If for no other reason, God will be looking over them because their mom is so wonderful and caring and loving.

I have a feeling deep down that they are perfectly fine and won't get heartworm. We will all be praying just in case. And you know how much those Pet Talk prayers work!!

[Gio]

Please Leslie don't blame yourself over this. Believe me you are NOT a bad mother. It could have happened to any of us.

Try not to worry to much. I know it's easier said than done.

[kohala]

Leslie, I enjoyed your vacation pics so much, and it looks like the kids had a great time, too! Only a truly fine furmom would be as concerned as you are - you are not a bad mom!!!!!! And please don't worry yourself sick - worry only makes bad things come true, I believe. It keeps you from being your wonderful self, and the pups will sense it and think something is supposedly reallly wrong when it isn't. Lots of PetTalkers here praying for you and the puppers!! Keep the Faith!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Leslie, you stop this silly talk, RIGHT NOW!!!:) This is "us" you're talking to! There isn't a more devoted, loving, responsible furmom than you, Leslie!!! There isn't one among us, I'm sure that hasn't at one time or another, forgotten a heartworm pill or two. I'm sure the pups will be just fine! Stop beating yourself up, friend. You are worrying so much because you ARE such a terrific Mom!! Love, Sandra, Cody and Star***Shine!

[lovemymaltese]

You are not a bad mom, you are great mom for being so concerned. YOur dogs are lucky to have you. I would not worry if I were you. Did you know there is a shot that last for 6 months. That's what I do because I am afraid that I may forget too.

[shais_mom]

Just do what everyone suggested and I am sure they will be fine.
There is no way in the world you are a bad mom. You are a wonderful mom!!!

[inkspot14]

it's not your fault! after all we're only human. it was a simple accident.:)