Comments on: Heartworm Medication Part 2: Options to Fear-Based Recommendations

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:01:50 +0000

Hi Karen. Everything I know about heartworm meds is in the two articles I wrote at Truth4Dogs. The decision has to be yours.

If it were my dog, I wouldn’t give them when the weather is cold. 6 weeks after you return from Florida, presuming the weather is below 57 degrees at some time during each day, I’d ask your vet to test for HW. If it’s warmer, test sooner. You test and give meds 6 weeks AFTER exposure, not before. You’ll have to decide what to do during the summer months. The Part 2 article should help you.

By: karen

karen — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:25:15 +0000

Lost here on HW treatments We will be in Ocala Fla from jna- march have a 6 month old golden and confused if he should have heartworm med while we are there He is not going to be outside much In the other months we live in NYS We do put flea and tick treatment on him Our vet does not really convince me and she is new to us HELP

By: Jan

Jan — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:33:02 +0000

Debbie, I have a few thoughts.

First, why would the dog need heartworm meds in the winter? Heartworms can’t mature absent mosquitoes and hot weather. Did you read: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/05/13/heartworm-medication-safety/ Also, did the vet do a heartworm test first, to make sure the dog didn’t have heartworms?
This is very important. It’s extremely dangerous to give heartworm meds without a test first. Your vet has to know this. Every medication stresses this.

Second, why is the dog getting yearly shots? No veterinarians are supposed to give them anymore. Actually, they never were necessary for the most important vaccines. Please read this http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/12/02/what-to-do-when-your-dog-has-a-vaccine-reaction/ and also this about why the dog probably didn’t need shots in the first place.

Find out some details and get back to me. This condition sounds serious. Don’t ignore it, but also see a better vet. If the vet caused the problem, he/she is unlikely to fix it. And especially contact the heartworm meds manufacturer.

Your friend needs to find out what shots were given and should contact the vaccine manufacturer. Also contact the heartworm manufacturer.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:28:44 +0000

Help!! My neighbor took her dog to the doctor for his yearly shots. The dog is a rat terrier who had never taken heartworm medication. The doctor asked my neighbor why she does not give the dog heartworm medication and my neighbor said, “you never told me to”. The docotr perscribed a chewable monthly pill by Virbrac, called Iverhart Plus. The next day the dog stopped eating and started vomiting, a few days later the dog started swelling and my neighbor took the dog back to the vet. The vet did xrays and found the heart swollen and surrounded by fluids. The vet wanted her to take the dog to a specialist. Can this be a cause of and adverse reaction to the medication. My neighbor seems to think so and will not take the dog to a specialist due to the high cost, she feels that as the medicine wears off, the swelling will go down. I cannot sleep at night thinking about this, please give me advise as to what I can do?

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:19:42 +0000

DMH, It’s an nteresting thought, but heartworm infestation has been thoroughly investigated by major university vet schools. Not only is it transmitted by mosquitoes, but it’s only by female mosquitoes. But it’s a good question. Thanks for posting.

By: DMH PenDragon

DMH PenDragon — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:31:20 +0000

Has anyone ever considered that the transmission of Heartworm may not be via mosquito bite but rather by the ingestion of the egg/larva from infrequently changed drinking water dishes or puddles/ponds. The reason I ask this question is because humans have a body temperature range similar to dogs and cats and other animals that become infected. The question is are humans in the same geographic areas diagnosed with HW at the same rate as animal and if not why not? Is it because we seldom drink out of water dishes left out over nite, seldom drink water from standing puddles or ponds. Just a thought that I think needs to be explored. If true this would change the risk assessment for our dogs and cats and change the whole issue of preventive medication.

By: Heartworm meds making fluff sick - Page 4 - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:10:42 +0000

[...] If I did heartworm prevention meds I would use the protocol found on Jan Rasmusen's website which is a low dose of Interceptor every 45 day but not during winter – seems the safest to me. Heartworm Preventatives: Safety and Alternatives | Truth4Dogs [...]

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:37:58 +0000

Susan, I’m sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that. You’ll have to ask your vet. Wish I could help.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:45:42 +0000

Jan, I’m a bit confused after reading your articles and would like some clarification on the administration of heartworm meds when a dog has already tested POSITIVE for worms. This question is for anybody who knows or is in a similar boat.

The tech told us to give the Heartgard Plus monthly, on the same day so I can remember. Can I give it at six weeks even though it’s not intended as a preventative in our case but rather is acting to kill the worms already present in our dog.

My own thinking is that it’s still effective at six weeks in either case.

By: Jan

Jan — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:29:32 +0000

Deborah, there are many holistic vets who are wary about using garlic other than in the smallest amounts. I’m no expert in using yeast and garlic for heartworm prevention. If I were taking MY dog to the Caribbean, I’d use the Safeheart method explained in my heartworm article. And I’d dose six weeks after arrival and departure in the Caribbean. Within several months afterwards, I’d have my dog tested. You might want to consult a holistic for more info. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vets

I would also worry about what shots they want. I’m sure they’ll want rabies. Please read my article about preventing reactions. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2010/09/23/rabies-vaccination-12-ways-to-vaccinate-more-safely/ And don’t get rabies with any other shots. This is very important.

Have a nice trip.