Hi My dog was checked for heart worm a year ago when we first got her and she has been on heart worm preventative but for a month we forgot and we put it back on her. How likely is it that she could have gotten it? I live in missouri USA. Do a lot of dogs get it is it common? She is acting Normal. I think we will take her in for another test but i want to know what are the chances.
2007-09-10 14:49:00 · 16 answers · asked by Karez121 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
If she just missed a month she should be fine especially if you put her back on it and she was on it consistently before hand. Heartworm is a very common disease more so in the south or in warmer climates than anywhere else. Heartworm prevention will save your pet from this horrible disease and they should be on it consistently every month. If you use it consistently every month and missed one month you will be fine, if a mosqito infected your dog the heartworm prevention kills off the larvae and in one months time that is all that would be in her system, it take two to three months for them to mature and six months to become adults. The heartworm prevention only kills the larvea to prevent development into adults and if used consistently you will have no problems. If you miss two or more months your chances of heartworm signigicantly increase the longer your dog misses their dose.
2007-09-10 14:54:26 · answer #1 · answered by dogtrnrlvsbxrs 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It takes longer than a month to get a bad infection and vets, shelters and rescue routinely use Heartguard or Ivomec to treat heartworm positive dogs so if you dog is on Heartguard it would have killed any microfilaria or worms. It is only common in dogs owned by irresponsible owners, oddly enough ALL the dogs from the New Orleans area in 3 rescue groups were heartworm positive so apparently there are/were a lot of irresponsible dog owners who A. abandoned their pets and B. didn't use heartworm preventative and of course didn't neuter. Very sad and in a wet area too where there must be lots of mosquitoes.
2007-09-10 15:03:31 · answer #2 · answered by ginbark 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In your area heart worms are common but you have had your dog on preventative for a year and just missed a month and then, started her back on her preventative. She is safe, you don't have to worry. Even if she was bitten by a mosquito carrying heart worms, they would be in the larva stage or so small that by putting her back on her meds, it will kill them. If it will ease your mind more, call your Vet and tell him/her just what you told us.
2007-09-10 14:55:33 · answer #3 · answered by gringo4541 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i'm so sorry your misplaced your expensive Grandpa to maximum cancers. this is the form of complicated disease because of the fact as quickly because it instruments in (from a random undesirable cellular no longer being caught via the immune device in time), it then starts off to misinform the immune device into think of this could properly be a area of 'self'. docs can no longer paintings miracles yet now and back they are in a position to make enouigh of a distinction. Your mom could no longer probable whinge approximately giving the dogs Milbemax that's particularly for favourite worms whether it does shrink the point of Heartworms too. yet why no longer say to her which you elect the dogs taken care of precise against heartworms (in case you reside in a community the place that's endemic) as he reminds you a variety of of your Grandpa and how important that's to maintain on precise of medical issues. So why no longer ask to have the dogs checked over precise for liver, kidneys and heartworms too. this could supply an exceptionally valauble baseline for any destiny therapy of your dogs considering the fact which you are able to say for specific (optimistically) that on the tip of 2010 he grow to be ok.
2016-11-14 21:52:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the vet my parents use, my horse's vets, and my dog's vet, it's safe to even allow up to three months between heart worm meds; it's obviously not recommended to go that long without giving your dog the meds, but it can safely be done that way.
Btw, I live in Florida--our state bird should be the mosquito ;-D.
*Edit:
sportsfanatic727: While I believe that most heart worm pills help prevent hook worms, hook worms are not the same as heart worms.
2007-09-10 15:00:41 · answer #5 · answered by Florida Girl 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most likely not going to be a problem.. but just a head's up.. next time you need to have the vet check it before starting it again.. if the dog managed to catch it in that time, the dying worms or larvae could have caused a reaction that could be fatal.. It's not an immediate reaction, and not likely if it's been on preventatives for a year.. but, for future reference.
2007-09-10 17:02:55 · answer #6 · answered by kaijawitch 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
She should be fine with only missing one month. I would take her to the vet and talk with him, and see if he thinks that maybe the test needs to be redone. The thing with heart worms is that there is a six month time frame before they show up in the test. Which means the test could be repeated, but if she does indeed have them, it may or may not show up in this test, but show up six months from now. Your best bet is to mark on a calender when her heartworm medicine is due every month so that you don't lose track again. Wish you the best and good luck.
2007-09-10 15:26:08 · answer #7 · answered by Tatika M 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you bring your dog in and its detected early enough the dog will be fine. Its not likely that your dog got it that quickly but it may be possible since hearworms aka. Hookworms are microscopic and deadly. They are very nasty and if left in the body will kill a organism also known as the host in scientific terms.
This is kind of off the subject but just a heads up to every one out there dont go bare footed around a pond, lake, forest, or any other damp area since hookworms can latch onto you using there tiny tiny hooks (hence there name) and bury into you without you even noticing it. So be protective and wear shoes around those areas. Hope this helps! =)
2007-09-10 15:14:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Shes probably fine, most dogs that get it are off hearworm meds for more than a month or not at all. You should have her tested every 6 months even if she never misses it to be sure. Even if she got it it takes like 3 months for it to show up so you'll need to wait anyway for the test. Just keep her on it and I am sure she will be fine, get her tested in a few months to make sure.
2007-09-10 14:56:17 · answer #9 · answered by Sassy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I forgot a dose once with my dog, too, and he was fine. I would still take her in for a test, though, just to be sure. Heartworm is very deadly....you don't want to take a chance, and especially if you have a lot of mosquitos where you are (because they carry it)
2007-09-10 14:55:55 · answer #10 · answered by Schleppy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋