I'm asking for preventive or post heartworm infection without testing for them at the vet. The vet is so expensive just to test, so I usually give my dogs stuff that is over the counter dog medication like for ear mites, worms.
The main question is giving them something for a blood borne parasite!
2006-08-24 19:46:49 · 9 answers · asked by careercollegestudent69 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
There is always a pre and post medication generic drug. Vets are a rip off in most ways these days. (My dogs aren't sick, we just have a lot of mosquitoes around here lately!)
2006-08-24 20:00:06 · update #1
Depending on the breed, Ivermectin can be used off label. Not for most herding breeds as it can be deadly. Ivermectin is the same active ingredient in Heartguard Plus. Heartguard is Ivermectin and Pyrantel Pamoate. Pyran worms for other worms like rounds. If a dog is heartworm positive, it can be left on heartworm preventative and the heartworms will eventually die off.
2006-08-25 01:46:01 · answer #1 · answered by bear 2 zealand © 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well Im not sure how to help you but I thought i would tell you that, alot of vets dont recommend over the counter meds bc in some cases they meds ended up doing more harm than good, causing an outrageous vet bill.... if money is an issue talk to your vet, some vet offices make payment plans or something like them at least. you just pay little by little... you really need the best quality stuff for your little furry friend you can get....
hope this helps to some extent.
with the mosquitos, can you keep your dog inside? if they are in a small pen or something you can get mosquito nets to place around them, there are alot of alternatives, but I think the vet may be the best choice to go... also, you could (if its possible) burn or do something that makes smoke seeing as in mosquitos dont like smoke and will go away... try and eliminate any standing water around your place like kiddie pools or things of that nature...
good luck!
2006-08-24 19:50:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A dry cough could be kennel cough, allergies or a heart condition. If the dog does not have a heavy infestation of heart worms some vets use the preventative to kill the worms. If there is a heavy worm load the preventative will kill the dog. As a person in rescue I've had over 15 dogs go through the $400. treatment and all have been successful. A vet exam and the blood test are not that expensive It would at least let you know for sure.
2016-03-27 04:30:50 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the dog is like a family member, pay the extra money to have it tested yearly and give the heartworm medication monthly. The heartworm meds cost about 20 bucks. The money is worth it. Then you don't really have to worry about mosquito bites.
2006-08-24 19:54:06 · answer #4 · answered by purelluk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, heartworm preventative is not an over the counter medication. It requires a vet's prescription. You can get it cheaper through the internet, but they will call your vet to verify that it is OK to prescribe it. Canadian sites (from what I remember) do not require a prescription for heartworm meds, though. It might be worth it to check!
Hope this helps!
2006-08-26 17:38:08 · answer #5 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not safe to give anyone (even animals) a medication before they're examined and the medication is prescribed or okay-ed by a doctor. Also, like Pink said, some vet offices probably let you pay the bill in parts so you don't have to all at once. Try talking to your vet or a receptionist about that if you're concerned with the bill. It'll be a lot more worth it in the long run. You don't want to give your pet something that might hurt him even more. :\
2006-08-24 19:54:42 · answer #6 · answered by avBlue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog almost died from heartworms. If I had not taken him into the vet to be tested he would have, he was in phase 4 with phase 5 being the worst. They spread quick. You will need something to kill the adults and the young ones. Follow the vets advice. They took me back to the lab and showed me what they had found in my dog. It was quite the shock.
2006-08-24 19:56:42 · answer #7 · answered by Mtn.Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can apply REVOLUTION spot-on-skin drops..Call around to make sure your vet doesn't require a blood test first.. In my town, One vet does, but 2 vets sell it without the blood test...It prevents heartworm, roundworm, tape worm, Lyme's disease, ear-mites, mange mites, fleas, ticks, and other parasites..
It is pretty new, so all vets don't carry it yet, so call around.
2006-08-24 20:29:06 · answer #8 · answered by Chetco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's expensive, but the test could be lifesaving... trust me, I almost lost a $3000 lab that had heartworms but otherwise appeared completely healthy..
2006-08-24 19:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by munchkin_4684 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋