Help with choosing a flea preventative?

Beejou

Royce is about 13 weeks now. So if  I understand correctly I should go ahead and start him on Interceptor without a HW test?

Right!  It is physically impossible for there to be anything for a HW test to detect right now, so it is a waste of money. 

Use the antigen heartworm test in 6-7 months.  Interceptor will kill any baby heartworms that he picks up from mosquitoes between now and then. 

Some people give it every 45-days instead of every 30-days, but I don't like that idea.  It is possible for a young heartworm in an area of low blood flow to avoid getting killed.  Dosing every 30-days gives you two chances to kill it within the 45-day window that the young heartworm is susceptible to a "preventative".

After the test you will know whether or not Royce is harboring any undetectable, female, immature heartworms right now which are too old for Interceptor to kill.  If he is, you will need to talk to your vet at that time about appropriate treatment.

The reason for getting a HW test before starting an older dog on a "preventative" is that the "preventative" could kill off a large number of infant heartworms (microfilaria).  That can cause health issues with the heart and lungs. 

Note:  A heartworm "preventative" does not actually prevent anything.  It kills infant heartworms (but not their mothers) and young baby heartworms (injected by a mosquito).  The name "preventative" is used to differentiate it from a heartworm "treatment" that is used to kill adult heartworms.  The treatments are very hard on a dog because its system must handle the bodies of the adult worms.

Thanks Janet :) I looked through my pet pantry and just happened to have one odd little 26+ lb Interceptor left from T-Bone's smaller days. Royce is about 25 lbs so I gave it to him. He's good now!

When he's about 7 months I'l have him tested to HW then :)

Also I ran through both of their coats W/ the flea comb and there appears to be no sign of the little devils. Good!

Beejou

When he's about 7 months I'l have him tested to HW then

Make that when he is about 9-months-old.  You don't want to get a false negative because you tested too soon - although I do hope you get a negative test.

You can assume that any heartworms picked up in the last 30-days are gone.  Heartworms acquired before that time when he was about 2-months-old will not be mature until he is 8-9 months since they take 6-7 months to develop.

janet_rose

You can assume that any heartworms picked up in the last 30-days are gone.  Heartworms acquired before that time when he was about 2-months-old will not be mature until he is 8-9 months since they take 6-7 months to develop.

And if you continue to do Interceptor monthly you will kill anything  as/before it matures. 

Beejou

On a side note, Comfortis does sound really nice and since it's safer than I thought, I might like to try it. How much does it cost roughly? I know it is via vet only.

Now I'm all flustered and upset Royce didn't start interceptor earlier... the shelter, the vet, and the clinic he was fixed out never mentioned it and only said he was too young for a HW test, which I see now is true but I would have bought Interceptor if they told me to :( I'll have him tested around 10 months or so to make sure he didn't contract in the weeks he was not on it.

Hopefully he'll test negative, and if God forbid he doesn't, we'll just handle whatever comes our way. I just want to spare my little love any sort of pain or suffering especially when it's completely preventable. IMO there's no excuse to let a dog get HW and let it go unchecked until it's a heavy load.

I worry my in-laws pit mix has HW. She's almost five and has never had a dose on interceptor or something of the like in her whole life. In the past yr or so she has gained a lot of weight (she is definitely fat now) and has little stamina. When her and T-Bone get to playing, she quickly has to lay down and pant, she's out. I bet HW causes weakness like that... Next time DH gets paid I am going to take her in for a test (only 20 dollars at the clinic I took Royce to) because otherwise she's not going to get a dang thing. Nothing burns me up more than people who "just adore" their dog and "Really love her" but refuse even basic medical care... She wouldn't have even gotten mange treatment if DH and I didn't buy it for her. She was eating holes in herself she was so itchy. I'm taking one of T-Bone's Advantages over to put on her so at least the fleas will go away. Sorry for the rant, I'm just upset by it.

Isn't it weird how people have an "it won't happen to MY dog" mentality? "That's what happens to OTHER people" seems to be the thought process. Head in the sand. I once rushed him in for an EMERGENCY with a heartbeat issue... turned out to be completey normal "sinus arrhythmia" ... I've taken him in for vision screenings because I worry the color of his eyes was a Panus symptom, etc. I just plain don't understand not keeping an eye on things that could develop into something deadly. If ya have money for cigarettes and eating out, YES you have money to give your dogs medical care first. I'd rather eat Ramen and bologna every day than let my pets suffer because I want to be irresponsible.

Also their dog has had cherry eye since she was a pup. They say their vet said it wasn't painful and didn't need to be fixed unless they cared about cosmetics... I think a gooey eye that doesn't full shut is more than cosmetic. If I had the money for a third dog I'd just tell DH to ask for her.

calliecritturs

And if you continue to do Interceptor monthly you will kill anything  as/before it matures.

I knew that Heartgard would over time gradually kill many of the over-45-day-old heartworms.  I was not aware that Interceptor would do that, too.

Glad to hear it!!