heartworm injections??

[lovemyshiba]

I just received a letter today from our vet, saying that monthly heartworm tablets are no longer necessary. If I so choose, a twice yearly injection called Proheart 6 is now available.
She is still going to carry the heartworm medicine, but gives us this new option.
Has anyone used this or had any experience with it whatsoever??

[Cincy'sMom]

Our vet also offers the injections, however we have chosen to stay with the tablets. In my understanding the injection protects ONLY against heartworm, where as Heartgaurd (what we use)tablets also treat and control roundworm and hookworms. Interceptor prevents heartworm, while it protects against roundworms, hookworms
and whipworms.

[wolf_Q]

My vet has tried to convince me to use the injections also. I asked about it on Pet Talk a while ago, and was adviced against using them....I'm not quite sure of the specifics why. I haven't seen Candy (Dixieland Dancer) on here in a while, but I believe she knows more about it.

Nebo likes eating the tablets anyway, LOL. :)

[lovemyshiba]

hmmm... interesting point Amy--where has Candy been?

anyone know?

[wolf_Q]

Don't know! :( I wish I'd see her posting again......she always has *great* advice! :D

[micki76]

Originally posted by wolf_Q
Nebo likes eating the tablets anyway, LOL. :)

Chester and Millie too!! :)

[wolfsoul]

I never knew that the tablets protected against all those! :) Hmm, thanks for that mind boost! :p

I would stay with pills if they do all that. :) I wouldn't much like vaccines that are probably fairly new and haven't been used so mcuh.

[Cincy'sMom]

If I remember right, Candy was laid off from work, leaving her less access to the puter. Sheis also in the process of trying to open a doggie daycare and I'm sure that is keeping her busy :)

[lovemyshiba]

Candy is very busy starting her doggie daycare business--I pm'd her last night, and got a response from her this morning.
She said she doesn't have much time to go through PT, but she still likes to get pms.

[4 Dog Mother]

We use the injections because I don't like having to remember giving pills on the same date of each month. I guess that comes from being old. I never seem to know what date it is and even if I did I would not remember that oh, yeah, the 10th, the dogs need their heartworms pills.

I didn't know the pills gave protection against more types of worms. Dazzi and Jack are due for their heartworm next week so i will check with teh vet about that for sure. And maybe I will switch to the pills anways.

[Cincy'sMom]

Originally posted by 4 Dog Mother

I didn't know the pills gave protection against more types of worms. Dazzi and Jack are due for their heartworm next week so i will check with teh vet about that for sure. And maybe I will switch to the pills anways.

I don't know how much more it may cost, but maybe you could use the injections and then worm the dogs once or twice a year, at least until you are sure things are under control with Jack.

[Byakko's Mom]

I have recently read a number of things against proheart 6 unfortunatly I am not feeling to well.I was in an accident this past fri and I was just dropping in to check on everyone for a minute.I really can't remember the pro's and con's but I think there were some health risks try checking it out online before you give it to your babies.I use interceptor and have for a while.My daughter used heartguard but switched due to the possibility that her dog got whip worms and ours were safe from the interceptor.They are all scary to me along with the vaccines but some are very neccessary so I try and research and use those with the least side effects.Good luck.I am sorry I can't be more specific tonight.
Laurie

[wolf_Q]

Found a link here against Proheart 6.....

http://bewareofproheart6.freecyberzone.com/

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Drake has been on the HW injection for 2 years now. My vet said that it is completely safe and has the same effect as the pills do.

[jaquetta]

Cincy's mom is right. The injection only takes care of the heartworm itself, whereas the tablets cover everything except hookworm and whipworms. For that reason i will stay with the tablets. However before I became so educated on heartworm preventives I did have the vet to give the injection to my Patches. Having asked a few other vets I know they all say the pills are better and more effective as long as no doses are missed, and there is no longer a need for regular wormings for roundworms and such.

jaquetta

[wolf_Q]

It seems like a lot of dogs can handle the shot with no problems.....but there's those perfectly healthy dogs that have reacted badly or even died from it. It seems to me (from what I read, I don't know for sure) that if your dog has already had the injection with no problems, there probably won't be any problems. But I've never tried it before, and the chance of a bad reaction to it is just too big of a risk for me to take.

[lovemyshiba]

Wow, Amy I just checked out that link. While I am sure that my dogs would be fine, it's a risk I cannot take with them. I would never ever forgive myself if something happened, and it was because I wanted something convenient.
Thanks for everyone's advice and comments.

[Logan]

I asked about it, because I thought it would be easier. I have a problem remembering the monthly chewables too. My vet hasn't started using it, not because of worries about danger, but moreso because he isn't convinced yet that it is as effective. You can purchase the heartworm medication, as well as Frontline and Advantage, much more inexpensively through the mail from a number of sources.

[oodlesofpoodles]

I use interceptor and frontline plus. The proheart6 injection cost the same as the interceptor but does'nt cover the intestinal parasites. Do beware of buying heartworm preventative over the internet. yes it is cheaper but if your dog gets heartworms and you have been buying it over the internet, the companies will not guarantee it. If purchased from a vet, Phifzer, Norvartis, and Merical will pay for the treatment to get rid of heartworms. I have seen dogs on heartgard, interceptor, sentinel, and revolution get heartworms and the companies paid for the treatment . It is best to have your pet tested for heartworms once a year. there is also preventatives for cats. But there is no treatment yet avaliable for cats. Although it is rare for a cat to get heartworms, every year more cases are being reported. my cats are on heartgard.