Required to give heartguard?

**Rage** · 11-17-2005, 04:04 PM

I just found out you're suppost to give your dog a pill called heartguard every month. Anyone even heard of this before? I've never given one to mine before, but I may start, especially after I found this sweet offer below:

TreasureTrooper pays $15 for every person who does the PetCareRX offer. To complete this offer, just make a purchase of any price. What you may not know is that every dog owner is required to give their pet a pill called "heartguard" every month. The veterinarian usually sells this chew to the dog owner at an inflated price. People can actually save over 50% on their heartguard medication by purchasing it at PetCareRX. Add the $15 that we pay you to do it through us, and you practically get the medicine for free.

Check it out:

http://www.treasuretrooper.net

**caseysmom** · 11-17-2005, 04:06 PM

You don't necessarily have to buy heartguard, you can buy another brand of heartworm prevention, heart guard is pretty pricey. Your dog should be tested for heart worms first, starting prevenative treatment in an untested dog could lead to worse illness if heartworms are present.

**Rage** · 11-17-2005, 04:08 PM

I've honestly never heard of heartworms before. Is it a new disease? Is it a risk to all kinds of dogs? Is it in all parts of the world, or what's up with it?

**My Peanuts** · 11-17-2005, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by Rage

I've honestly never heard of heartworms before. Is it a new disease? Is it a risk to all kinds of dogs? Is it in all parts of the world, or what's up with it?

It's not a new disease. My childhood dog used to take heartguard. DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG THE PRO-HEART 6 SHOT! I'm not even sure if it's still on the market, but it killed a lot of dogs. It's bad. Just ask Kimmy about Kia. Kia almost died from it.

**caseysmom** · 11-17-2005, 04:27 PM

I think some parts of the world are worse than others for heartworms, but pretty much anywhere there are mosquitos there are probably heartworms.

**caseysmom** · 11-17-2005, 04:29 PM

Here is a heartworm map:

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/merial/hrtw...orldcolorF.gif

**Daisy and Delilah** · 11-17-2005, 04:31 PM

We have alot of mosquitos here in Florida. Heartworm preventative is a must. It's a very ugly disease that no one wants to witness. I lost my Pittie, Bully, to it many years ago. He had it when I found him wandering through my yard one day. I rescued him, got him the treatment, but still lost him to a miserable death. It was awful. As others have said, do not give your dog heartworm preventative without proper testing beforehand. Whatever you do.....do the test first. It could lead to more severe problems or possibly death. Thank God for the newer cures for the disease. As My Peanuts said, years ago your dog would almost always die if they had a positive test. Please have your dog/s tested and start the treatment as soon as you can. It will be well worth it

**Rage** · 11-17-2005, 04:44 PM

Weird, I'm from Saskatchewan and I have 3 German Shepherds that basically live outside because I'm on an acreage and I've never heard of this. I'm deffinately going to look into it though. Thanks.

**lv4dogs** · 11-18-2005, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by caseysmom

You don't necessarily have to buy heartguard, you can buy another brand of heartworm prevention, heart guard is pretty pricey. Your dog should be tested for heart worms first, starting prevenative treatment in an untested dog could lead to worse illness if heartworms are present.

I just wanted to add that you should always consult with your vet before choosing what brand to give.

Heartguard has ivermectin in it which can cause some serious side effects. It should not be given to Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Australian shepherds, and Old English sheepdogs, though some individual animals that are not members of these sensitive breeds may also be prone to side effects.

Revolution contains selamectin, which is a closely related cousin of ivermectin. To be on the safe side it shuold also not be used on the above mentioned breeds.

You can't just give you dog the pills. You need to get he/she tested because if he/she already has it the pills won't help and your dog will die.

Yes that is true but heartworm meds are also avail only by script. and you are required to have your dog tested before putting him/her on the preventative.

So if your vet doesn't require a test chances are it's not a very reputable vet at all. And also not complying with state/government laws.

Another thing to be careful about is the place you are purchasing them from. If they don't require a script from your vet chances are it is a scam. A lot of internet drug sites that don't require scripts are selling fake drugs. Which is also against the law.

**My Peanuts** · 11-17-2005, 04:11 PM

Monthly heartworn protection is VERY important. My dogs have always been on it all their lives. Heartworm WILL kill your dogs. It is spread through mosquitoes. I recently rescued a stray with heartworm. The treatment, if caught in time, is very hard on their bodies. You can't just give you dog the pills. You need to get he/she tested because if he/she already has it the pills won't help and your dog will die. Heartworm is literally worms that grow in the dog's heart. The 'babies' are in the bloodstream and a simple blood test from the vet will find out if your dog is negative or positive. Years ago a positive almost always meant your dog would die, but now there are better treatments. My little patient, Jimmy, is doing really well and he will get retested in January to see if the worms are all gone.