If my dog already has heartworms will the meds help??
2007-08-30 12:16:23 · 18 answers · asked by Liplicious 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Thank you to everyone for your feedback. Thank you so very much.
2007-08-30 13:16:42 · update #1
No the medication will not help and if your dog really does have heartworm the treatment is very costly and painful to the animal. If they do not get treatment then they will die. Yes you should give prevention because there is nothing you can do on your own to prevent them getting heartworm. Heartworm comes from an infected mosquito and mosquitos can also come in your home. If you get a prevention such as Heartguard you will not only prevent them from getting heartworm but it also protects them from other worms and parasites. Trust me I have seen animals suffer from heartworm and it broke my heart to see them suffer the way they did and to know that it could have been prevented.
2007-08-30 12:27:13 · answer #1 · answered by Vikki 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We give our dogs Revolution every month, which protects against fleas, ticks, and other internal parasites in addition to heartworm. Neither of our dogs has ever had a flea or tick, nor has it been found to have any intestinal parasites. Both of them test heartworm-clear every single time.
Heartworm medication is only for prevention. If a dog is already infested, the treatment is involved, dangerous, costly, and not always successful.
Most vets recommend heartworm-prevention meds year-round, because leaving the dog unprotected is just too risky. All it takes is a single mosquito-bite to cause heartworm. Heartworm, left untreated, is deadly.
Hope this helps ... good luck.
2007-08-30 12:27:24 · answer #2 · answered by * 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My dogs get heartworm meds every month.
If your dog already has heartworms & is not treated aggressively & quickly, the dog will die. No, the preventive meds won't work if the dog has already been infected.
It is extremely expensive to treat & save a dog that has heartworms. Depending on the severity it is at depends on if the vet will even attempt to save the dog.
2007-08-30 14:47:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I absolutly give my dog a heartworm preventative every month. Its important to me to keep my dogs healhty and its even better that I can help prevent this. DO NOT give your dog any heartworm preventative unless your vet has cleared your dog for its use. If your dog already has heart worms and then you give it the meds, it will most likely kill your dog. It would kill all the worms at once and stop your dog's heart from beating. You need to have a vet exam and a blood test to see if your dog has heart worms. Then your vet will usually prescribe you a year's worth of Heartguard or Interceptor heartworm preventative.
2007-08-30 13:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by Alexis R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you give a dog with heartworms, over the counter heart worm meds the dying worms could cause the dog to die.. It can happen even WITH vet treatment.. Take care of it as soon as you can.. it seems like the earlier on, and the younger the animal the more hope of success..
2007-08-30 12:23:14 · answer #5 · answered by kaijawitch 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes both my dogs have been on Heartguard for several years now.
If your dog tests heartworm positive treatment is avaible to your dog. This is something what you will have to discuss with your vet as to proper treatment planning. Yes meds help and will allow your dog a happier and healthier life.
You must speak to your vet first to see how badly your dog has the heart worms first then he can plan out the best thing to help your dog.
2007-08-30 12:24:49 · answer #6 · answered by ♥Golden gal♥ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If your dog already has heartworms, do not give him heartworm preventative. IT COULD KILL HIM. Give your dog whatever heartworm meds your vet has recommended, but do not give preventative, like Interceptor. I give interceptor every month, and it keeps dogs from getting heartworms, but is dangerous for dogs who already have heartworms.
2007-08-30 12:28:34 · answer #7 · answered by Carrie O'Labrador 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the part of the country you live in. Heartworms are unheard of where I live, so the vet doesn't recommend monthly treatment. When I did lived in an area of the country that was prone to heartworms my dog was on monthly treatments.
If your dog has tested positive make sure to follow your vets course of treatment and then yes, I would put him on Intercepter.
2007-08-30 12:30:55 · answer #8 · answered by dejavu_qa 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No they will not ! If the dog already has an infestation you have to see your vet. The treatment and survival rate depends on dogs age and how far the disease has spread. Chances are 50-50 that the animal will survive as the treatment involves arsenic and keeping the dog TOTALLY INACTIVE for up to 30 da. It is also not cheap ! And yes I give my dogs meds !
2007-08-30 12:29:37 · answer #9 · answered by AZRAEL 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your dog has heartworms it will actually KILL your pet. DO NOT give heart worm meds if your pet was disgnosed with heartworms!
2007-08-30 12:48:25 · answer #10 · answered by buddhist_20 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋