Does my dog need heartworm protection in CA?

Question

I live in Washington now but am moving to California. In WA, dogs do not need heartworm prevention medication. What are the risks with giving a dog heartworm prevention medication? I don't want my dog to get sick from the medication or from heartworms!

My dog has numerous allergies and other health problems, and every vet I've taken him to (many, as I have moved a few times since I've had him) in WA has told me he does not need heartworm protection here.

When I lived in OH, all the vets were very clear about needing it. I asked about it immediately upon moving to WA.

I'm so mad that a VET told me not to worry about it! ARGH!

Answer 1

Yup your going to need it in CA. My dogs have no adverse reaction to the Heartguard. I dont know why yours would.

Answer 2

Even if your doctors don't press for it you need to always keep your dog on heartworm preventative. Heartworms are carried by mosquitos in a three step process. They are implanted in a larvae stage in the dog from a mosquito. In this larvae stage they are known as microfilaria. Then they have to reach adulthood not in the dog but in the mosquito. Here are a few really good reasons you should always keep your dog on heartworm preventative, even if you are moving to an area where the likelihood of catching them is slim.

1.) Heartworm snap tests do not test for microfilaria, therefore if your dog has the larvae stage then the tests won't show it. (snap tests look for a chemical in the blood called antigen, micofilaria can only be seen on a slide of blood under a microscope).
2.) You are possibly carrying them to another state to infect other dogs.
3.) If there are only male heartwoms in a dog the tests won't detect them.
4.) If there are only a few heartworms the test won't find them.
5. ) Keeping a dog on heartworm preventative will often get rid of heartworms if there are only a few.
6.) Heartgard and other similar test kill microfilaria.

Answer 3

Dogs need to be on heartworm prevention everywhere, but especially in mild climates like California. Heartworm is a horrible disease and the prevention is so much better than the treatment. Trust me.

I am shocked that a vet would tell you that it is unecessary in WA. Heartworm disease has been reported in every state in the country including WA. If there are mosquitos, there's heartworm. All it takes is one mosquito bite and your dog is infected, so it is not a good idea to not use prevention anywhere.

Answer 4

all dogs should be on some type of heartworm preventative. there are pros and cons to every medication that is offered on the market for both pets and humans. You need to talk with a vet about this and make a decision based on what you feel is best for your pet. My feeling is this the risk of medication side affects do not out weigh the risk of the damage that the heart worm do to the dogs heart and the risk of the side affects of the treatment as well as the cost of treatment which can run as high as $800.00.

Answer 5

If youre near the coast, in the mountains or anywhere where there are mosquitos then yes I would get him on a prevention. There is a somewhat new product out by advantage called advantage multi which i have used and quite like it takes care of fleas, deworms for roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and also is a heartworm prevention. So it would be something to look into.

Answer 6

All dogs need heartworm protection.
But make sure he doesn't have heartworm, because if u give your dog heartworm medication when he already has heartworm, you'll kill him.
Go to ur vet, they will do a test, and tell u whether or not u can give him heartworm medication.
Good Luck!

Answer 7

I live in NYC and I asked dog's vet the same question when she recommended heartworm testing and medication. Since the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, I figured better safe than sorry.

Answer 8

The risks of getting heartworm is greater than the risk of receiving the vaccination for it. So take your dog to the vet and get it. And or ask them about it.

Answer 9

Your dog needs it where ever you live. Where there's mosquitoes, there's going to be heart worm. Better to be safe then have a sick dog. The preventive isn't that expensive for a six month to a year supply (depending on the brand your vet uses) compared to what it would cost to treat your dog for heart worm. Plus, there is a heighten chance of it being fatal, especially in small breed dogs.

Answer 10

Here's a thought. Use your own brain. Do the research yourself. Vets have been trained that all dogs need a lot more intervention than what is necessary. It's their education, and they are not going to deny such a lucrative stream of income. Here's a good place to start: Google Dr. Jeanne Dodds. She is a holistic vet who has actually presented research to replace archaic educational curriculum with a message of "Minimal Vaccines." If you really did the research and did not rely on "experts" whose incomes are invested in the toxic substances, you could make a more educated decision. All the answers above are by people who let someone else do the thinking and decision making for them. Sure, you can start with your vet. But how can he/she be expected to know that new vets are graduating from school with a completely different outlook on vaccines and unnecessary toxins routinely administered to our pets. Here's another good Google search" Vaccinosis. It's a relatively new disease cause by excessive vaccines. I personally fear the disease less than the toxic pharmaceuticals.

Answer 11

Yahoo has a map showing the risk areas where heart worm infect animals. Some areas dogs may need year round meds, some areas only need meds a few months and some areas they are unnecessary. As stated above do your research! All the injections do harm to our beloved pets. Be careful what you allow a vet to inject them with.