Dog and Heartworm Preventative?

Question

We recently adopted a four year old mixed breed dog from a rescue organization and he's overall very healthy. This is our first dog so we had a quick question regarding heartworm preventative medication.

- Apparently at the rescue he wasn't on anything so should we talk to our veterinarian and get him started on something or is heartworm preventative something that really isn't necessary?
- What questions should we ask our vet when we see him next?
- Also - what kinds of procedures are required before he starts the medicine?

Thank you so much for all your help!

Answer 1

Before putting the dog on preventative, take the dog to the vet and ask for a heartworm test. The vet will draw blood and test it for heartworm indicators; he may also look for "microfilia" (young heartworms) in the blood. Usually, they can get a reading within seconds.

If the dog tests "negative", that means there is no indication of heartworms, and starting the dog on the preventative immediately will keep the dog safe from infestation. The preventative is usually in the form of a chewable treat or tablet that the dog needs just once a month.

((Keep in mind that a negative test now doesn't necessarily mean that the dog doesn't have heartworms; it just means that the test can't see any indication of them. Heartworms mature in about 6 months, so the dog may have the immature worms in its system now, but they won't show up in the test until later. That's why it's always good to have your dog tested again 6 months from now.))

If the dog tests "positive", that means the dog already has heartworms, and it will have to go through a very rigorous regiment of treatment, which will include having the dog stay overnight at the vets for several days while it's given "posion" to kill the heartworms, and then about a month of isolation and inactivity while the body pushes the dead worms out and/or absorbs them. The vet will probably want to take some xray or sonagram images of the dog's heart and lungs to make sure the valves of the heart haven't swollen and that there isn't any fluid collecting in the lungs. (One of the symptoms of heartworms is a "soft cough".) Your vet can give you more details. Treatment can be pricey; that's why prevention is such a good idea.

Keep in mind that heartworms are carried by mosquitoes, so if you live somewhere where there are lots of mosquitoes, heartworm preventative is a must.

We recently put one of the dogs in our shelter through the treatment and she came through it just fine.

Answer 2

Yes, heartworm preventative is absolutely necessary. As a matter of fact, I am surprised that the shelter didn't have your dog on something. They should also have already done a heartworm test to make sure your dog is negative. Mosquitoes can come out at any time during the year. I live in northern Illinois, and we had a warm spell in February that bred mosquitoes like crazy! Don't take chances with your dogs health-it is better to be on the side of caution. I lost a dog to heartworm-she died from her treatment of stage two heartworm disease at 1 1/2 years of age, and I will never get over it. I had her on a preventative, but she was a Katrina dog and already had heartworm disease when I got her. Your vet will be able to advise you on what you will need to do to protect your dog.

Answer 3

With summer coming up fast, you should have your dog on a heartworm preventive medication (i.e. Heartguard, etc.) because heartworm disease is completely preventable.

When you go to your vet and ask about putting your dog on the meds, the doctor will normally do a blood test to make sure your dog hasn't been exposed already to the heartworm parasite. Once the dog has tested negative, your vet would administer the preventative meds immediately, which would only need to be given once a month. They seem to be really tasty, at least this is what I've noticed with my 2-year-old Golden Retriever.

If you're uncertain about heartworm and it's effects, ask the doctor to see the example they have of what a heart looks like infested with the parasite. It will certainly convince you that you wouldn't want to have to go through the heartache of losing a pet to something that is preventable.

While at your vet, you should ask any questions you have. A sign of a great veterinarian is that they listen to all your concerns and answer all your questions.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your new pooch!

Answer 4

Any reputable rescue would have had a heartworm test done and had the dog on a preventative. I know, I'm a foster for a great dane rescue.
Call them and ask. You will also need to know the date that the dog last had his preventative.
Vets seem to think that you need to have a dog on heartworm pills year round. You only need to have them on heartworm pills when mosquitoes are out.
The pills are also not needed monthly.
Please read Dr. Malernee's site on the subject. Click on articles and scroll down to the one on heartworm. Be sure to click on his link into the government's website and read the study on Heartguard and how it was given to dogs. I looked up and read the studies on all the brands of heartworm pills. The studies all read the same. They do not have to be given monthly.
http://www.evidencebasedvet.com
This is a state of Florida licensed vet.

Answer 5

All dogs must have a blood test first before heartworm medication can be started. This test will see if he is clean of them first and if it's safe for him to take the medication. Yes it is very necessary for your dog to be on this type of medicine. Heart worm in dogs is very expensive to cure and why take a chance.
An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Answer 6

He needs to have a heartworm test done by the vet before starting on heartworm meds.
Depending on where you live heartworm can be very important. Heartworms are life threatening.

Answer 7

If you live in the USA where heartworm is very prevalent. yes you need to have the dog heartworm tested before giving the medicine.

Answer 8

yes it's a blood test to see if there is worms in the blood stream it only takes a short time to find out and then if no problem they give you a perventative most now are a pill given once a month and also prevents othe worms like round

Answer 9

I used to have a dog with the same problem, I went to the vet's office and asked him what I should do and he gave me some stuff to put in my dogs food and it worked, you should do the same.