My dog had a blood test done for heartworms, and its negative but i am suppose to start him on his meds. If i start him on his meds and stop it after a year would it be bad
2007-10-31 17:09:39 · 14 answers · asked by kang 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I believe you refer to your dog's monthly preventive medications, such as Heartgard or Interceptor. Although your dog is tested negative on heartworm, you should give the preventive medications to your dog. I don't know about the region you live about mosquitoes. You should check with your vet about whether you need to give it to your dog in winter. Where I live, I have to give it to my dogs year round.
2007-10-31 17:15:32 · answer #1 · answered by Wild Ginger 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the vet did the heartworm test, then s/he should have suggested this to you and prescribed the heartworm preventative to start on -- it should be given year around in a lot of areas -- there are some areas up north that have certain times of year that it can be stopped but your veterinarian would have to tell you those times as there is sort of a stagger period that they need to get it. You don't stop it after a year, you usually have them rechecked and then continued on the meds if they are still negative. Usually they will be negative but some people don't realize that they forget it some days and then the filaria are there and voile, heartworms, so it is important to continue the medication for the period the veterinarian tells you. Also if you are planning to travel with the dog into areas that might be year around preventative places (definately in the souther US!) then you will need to continue while the dog is in that area and a little while afterwards -- again, the vet should be able to let you know precisely.
BTW, the treatment if the dog gets heartworms is very expensive and very dangerous for the dog so it is much better to use the preventative than take chances.
2007-10-31 17:32:09 · answer #2 · answered by Nancy M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We draw a small amount of blood and do a test on it. It only takes about 15 minutes to get the results. If the test in negative, then we start the dog on a once a month preventative. It is a good idea to retest once every two years following to ensure that an infestation has not occurred. Be sure to give the preventive every month. If two months go by without giving meds then you would have to retest. It will be safe to test for a dog that age. Do not give preventative without testing b/c if positive then the meds are dangerous. Also if positive, heartworms are curable but if heartworms have been present for a long period of time it can be very hard on the dog and can even cause death. Sometimes with an X-ray they can determine how much damage has been done and if treatment is even an option. See a vet immediatly if you feel that this could be the case. Coughing is a sign of heartworm infestation along with other symptoms, this being the most common. Good luck.
2016-05-26 06:03:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's up to you, but I'd put him on preventive.
Heartworm is spread through mosquitoes. They bite an infected dog and then bite your dog and your dog gets heartworm.
Heartworm treatment when they have it is very risky and expensive. Most dogs survive it, but it depends on how bad it is. Heartworms can look like spaghetti and have been found up to 12 inches long lodged in the heart. You can imagine that stress that puts on the dogs system. Following treatment, you have to keep your dog as calm and quiet as possible for 30 days or the dead worms that are flushing from the system can cause problems. It costed over 300 dollars on a military base 8 years ago to have it treated, not sure how much it is in the civilian world or with today's prices.
The preventative kills the eggs or larva not sure which it is, I forgot (which is what is spread by the mosquitoes) before they can cause damage to the heart.
2007-11-01 00:06:45 · answer #4 · answered by Leanna G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to start your dog on the meds and keep him on them for life, literally. Dogs get heartworms from mosquitoes, so unless you know how to rid the world of mosquitoes-give the meds to your dog. Also, is helps prevent other types of worms too.
2007-10-31 17:19:45 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well if he tested negative and you start him on the heartworm meds you must keep giving them to him for all his life. If you stop, then he could get it and it's not pretty. There are some pretty inexpensive tablets which you can give him which are absolutely effective.
2007-10-31 17:16:33 · answer #6 · answered by Laurence B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog will need a heartworm preventative for the rest of his life regardless of whether he tested negative and yes it would be putting your dog at risk if you don't.
2007-11-01 00:22:13 · answer #7 · answered by Little Ollie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heart worms meds is to keep it from getting heart worms not to treat heart worms
2007-10-31 17:16:55 · answer #8 · answered by chihuahuamom 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All dogs should be on this all the time for the rest of their lives. You don't want him to get heart worms. Its really bad.
2007-10-31 17:13:12 · answer #9 · answered by BRIDGE 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Start him on a preventive regiment and keep with it for life. Heart worms are terrible and the treatment to cure an animal of them is next to barbaric if it works at all. Educate yourself and be a proper pet owner.
2007-10-31 17:20:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋