heartworm medication? yes or no?

Willow gets Interceptor monthly.  I'm not comfortable playing around with this particular med but I do space out my Frontline doses more in the wintertime. 

when I read the title of this post - my first thought was 'WHAT! are you kidding me?!'

I have not read all the replies - but let me tell you my side.

I live in FL. Heartworms are a HUGE problem down here, and I have seen so many dogs go through the treatment - and let me tell you! It's painful, and not fun. I would NEVER want my dog to go through that, so he gets interceptor every 30 days, on the dot. He weighs about 13 lbs, and I think his dose is like 10-18 lbs, or something like that.

theoretically, it takes 6 months for heartworms to develop, so I suppose you didn't have to do it every 30 days - but I'm sorry, I am just not willing to take that risk and put my dog through that hell of treatment.

rwbeagles

There is a different HW treatment which consists of simply giving the HW meds and allowing it to kill all microfilaria/babies....the old worms die of old age..

ETA: BECCA! I demand new Lynn pics!

This is definitely an option for older dogs, sensitive dogs, and people who can't afford the treatment - for mild cases.  It's sadly not an option for rescues, as we have to ensure that they are HW free before adoption.  We cannot guarantee that the adoptee will continue the treatment faithfully enough to make it effective.  Anyone pursuing this option has to remember that any dose skipped, means the cycle starts again from the beginning - meaning another six months to two years of extreme vigilance.

Did you see the video I posted?  And she's even grown since then!  http://community.dog.com/forums/t/79409.aspx 

We don't use any heartworm meds.  Our vet says its not a problem here (so cali).  But if we went on vacation out of the area, we would need something.

 I give Interceptor once a month for two months, then Safeguard for a month, then Interceptor for two months, etc.

jenn52

We don't use any heartworm meds.  Our vet says its not a problem here (so cali).  But if we went on vacation out of the area, we would need something

Same here. I'm really glad your vet says that too, because it kind of freaked me out.

I live in the Denver area, and have chosen not to use a preventative. Here are the factors that led to my decision.

We are religious about getting them tested every year.

Heartworms are not a huge problem here, and we don't have a lot of mosquitoes either. I personally might get two bites all year, and I never use any repellant.

I have Samoyeds, so the only place they could get bitten is their nose and ears. They spend only short periods of time outside, especially when it is warm enough for mosquitoes.

If they were to get heartworm, with the regular testing it would be a light infestation, and treatable with low risk of adverse affects.

I really like to avoid exposing my dogs to pesticides, herbicides, etc as much as possible.

I think for us it is an acceptable risk.

samshine

we don't have a lot of mosquitoes either. I personally might get two bites all year, and I never use any repellant.

I'm so envious.  I want to move to Denver.

rwbeagles

There is a different HW treatment which consists of simply giving the HW meds and allowing it to kill all microfilaria/babies....the old worms die of old age...unprogenetated(sp) and the cycle is broken. Think this takes about 2 years....longer, cheaper....and in mildly affected dogs it is SAFER than the other method.

I've done it -- that's how I got Ms. Socks thru her treatment.  She was SO positive no one would touch her to do the immiticide -- she wouldn't have survived it.

However -- 'safer' will bite you on that one.  You have to give it DAILY ... or ... frankly your dog is just a heartworm factory for your entire area if you only give it monthly.  (because it only stays in the body for 24 hours).  And ... all the same risks apply as apply for the immiticide.  Because you are killing massive amounts of microfilaria and ultimately you are killing adults as well, all that dead parasite material has to be re-absorbed in the body and be passed as waste.

SO ... if you don't keep them pretty darned sedentary you increase your risk exponentially that the dog will simply die from a heart attack, stroke or the liver/kidneys simply shutting down because they got 'clogged' with debris and couldn't pass blood to the heart.

With Ms. Socks I did the preventive dose of ivermectin daily for almost 6 months.  Then I weaned her off it gradually (it becomes addictive in the body because of the side effects it has on the immune system -- the immune system essentially shuts down and lets the drug turn it on and off -- that's a side effect to ivermectin most folks don't know about because it's not a problem in an occasional dose but is when you dose weekly or more often as you have to in order to get a clear occult without being a 'risk' to the rest of the world). 

It took me a year but I got a 100% clear occult on her (this was a dog who was given to me literally ready to die of heartworm -- her heart was massively enlarged from it and they had migrated to lungs and other organs -- the lungs were badly damaged as well).

MANY rescues in the south use this sort of protocol.  It's a bit dangerous -- especially if folks don't continue it or try to use just the minute dose in HeartGuard.  You can easily - doing it that way -- wind up with microfilaria who are immune to ivermectin rather than dead.

It can be done but it's a LOT of work ... particularly if you don't want to endanger other animals.  I can't stress that enough.  IF you have a heartworm positive dog and you only give the ivermectin ONCE a month then the other 30 days of the month your dog is actively producing heartworm microfilaria for many months into the treatment and you won't know when the dog is NOT producing microfilaria unless you test more frequently. 

This was the reason I gave it daily.  It compresses the time it takes to facilitate the 'cure' -- BUT you get side effects from the ivermectin (it depresses the immune system) and you have to wean them off, and jump start the immune system later.

This is essentially the 'war' that goes on -- some say "but you don't HAVE to" ... and others say "but it's unethical to have your dog spreading heartworm otherwise!!"

But if you only do it once a month then EVERY time you give it you have to treat it just like when you treat the dog with immiticide -- you have to keep the dog sedentary and avoid any activity so not to ramp up the risk of stroke, etc.

I'm glad to help anyone who asks.  I honestly think this is something that needs to be done either under a vet's supervision or by someone who thoroughly knows the risks.  Don't ask me for doses of ivermectin -- I won't give them to you.  You can find out if you research -- but this is one of those things that can be SO abused that after much thought and agonizing I quit giving people the amounts UNLESS they let me help educate them about the whole process.

Jump on Petfinder and look at southern dogs -- you'll see this huge number under "special needs" that are simply dogs that are heartworm positive who need the med. Most are simply being treated monthly -- and then we wonder why heartworm is still on the rise?

Again, I have to say -- don't do this with collies, shelties and most herding dogs.  I know some use ivermectin on herders but I have had REALLY ***BAD*** experience with it and I wouldn't use ivermectin on any herder of any size or shape.  I nearly killed Foxy with it ... and he was no purebred. 

You *can* do this with Interceptor (milbemycin) but mostly it's cost prohibitive for most people. 

brookcove

Anyone pursuing this option has to remember that any dose skipped, means the cycle starts again from the beginning - meaning another six months to two years of extreme vigilance.

Absolutely -- that's part of exactly what I meant -- rescues are using this as if it's the easy way out and 'no big deal' but it is and if it's not done right ... it's not only going to start over but it can possibly result in resistant microfilaria who won't die on ivermectin ....

When I was a child we had a dog that died from heartworms.  To me its big of a risk not to prevent, especially with the amount of misq. we have in NJ.  My dogs have been on prevention since they were young and all my dogs in my adult life and I never had a problem with the prevention.  So..  for me, it's well worth it not to have my dog suffer in getting heat worms.

Texas is almost as bad as Florida, so heartworm "preventatives" are needed year round.

"Preventatives" only kill

• microfilaria - initial heartworm stage (next growth stage must be inside a mosquito)
• young heartworm larvae less than about 45 days old (age is from the infecting bite)

Young heartworm larvae older than about 45 days old are too old to be killed by a "preventive".

I prefer the safety and reliability of Interceptor.  However, like all "preventatives", it is not foolproof.  If one doses every 30 days, a "preventative" has two chances to kill the young larvae.  If a larvae lives through the first dose (is in a location of low blood flow with too little "preventative";), maybe it will be in a better location the second time.

Tests can detect

• microfilaria produced by mature adult female heartworms (a "preventative" would kill these)
• mature adult female heartworms [requires several (6-7??) to produce enough antigen to be detectable]

Tests can not detect

• heartworm larvae (any number)
• mature adult male heartworms (any number)
• just a couple of mature adult female heartworms

A dog on "preventatives" can test negative, but still have a number of growing heartworm larvae and/or adult heartworms.  For that reason, dogs with unknown histories, but who test negative, should be retested 6 months (rather than 1 yr) after starting a "preventative".  Pups not started on a "preventative" by 6 weeks should also be tested 6 months later.

NOTE:  The term "preventative" is used to differentiate the monthly meds from the heartworm "treatments" which are used to kill adult heartworms and which are very hard on the dog.  "Preventatives" prevent adult heartworms by killing heartworm larvae and prevent the spread of heartworms by killing heartworm microfilaria.  Interceptor and Heartgard are out the dog's system within 48 hours.

When deciding whether or not to skip a dose of heartworm "preventative" during winter months, it helps to understand the heartworm life cycle.  However, do note that mosquitos can survive inside buildings or be transported in trucks from warmer locations.

First time I ever heart of heartworms was when my Dad's elderly English Setter was diagnosed with them.  He was treated with arsenic, went blind in a couple of days and died.  HTAT is whenw e leared of heartworms and of curse the old daily preventtive, Flirabits.  I used them for yeas on my dogs , but now for severl years hav used Interceptor (except for tht huge erro of using ProHeart6 injection which killed my 4 year old golden retriever, Hunter.

 In Dec. 2002 we adopted a golden retriever mix who was suppose to be totally parasite free.  She ws given heartworm pill the night before we picked her up.  Took her to my vet a month later, and darn if she didn't test postie for heartworms.  Vet did another check, again positive.  Well, we had her treated and it was not fun for her or for us.  She hadtwo injections in her hips and had to crated for 6 weeks.   She spent alo her time in that wirecratewatching our 3 goldens playing going in and out, etc.  She was allowed out 4-5 times on a leash to go into yard and do gusiness.   When she tested cledar--you should have seen her run and jump and play.  All tests since have been negative.  None of our dogs have ever tested postivie--with her and she came to us that way.

I would not go a month without giving them their Interceptor and to avoid any chance of confusion or mmissing they get their pill on the 1st of each month.  I hate that they hve to have this junk, but hee in Texas, especially on the coast, no way can I chance it.

Pit_Pointer_Aussie

I give Interceptor once a month for two months, then Safeguard for a month, then Interceptor for two months, etc.

Safeguard is a dewormer for intestinal worms only, so I assume that you mean Safeheart.

Interceptor and Safeheart both use milbemycin oxime to kill heartworms, but the dosage in Safeheart (one-fifth the amount) is not high enough to also kill intestinal worms.

Alternating Interceptor and Safeheart is certainly one way to reduce the amount of pesticide given (if you are not fighting problems with intestinal worms).