Can we talk heartworm meds?

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject:

So would you all think it's safe NOT to treat as long as the temps at night don't go over 57 degrees for 14 consecutive days? Like I said it is rare for our temps at night to be over that and on the rare occasion that they are it's never for 14 consecutive days....or if it were it would be rare.

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject:

And to clarify I mean the LOW temps at night. Our average lows during the summer are in the low 50s.

weimdogmom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

I don't remember the source. I was researching, googling for hours this morning.

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject:

I'm sure there have been a rare case or two around here....but I have personally never heard anyone say "my dog has/had heartworms", I just don't think it occurs very often in these parts. I could be mistaken though, but I certainly never hear anyone talk about it.
My Vet (of course) is insistent that all dogs be on heartworm meds year round, but I'm really learning to do my own research and form my own opinions. I do understand how bad heartworms are, I really do. But how bad is the chemicals in the preventatives?

Weimwayz · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

We use Sentinel year round on all our 3 weims. We do a ton of outdoor activities and need the year rounds flea prevention it has. Plus I also like the fact that the sentinel has internal parasite prevention. We can get some of the internal parasites that dogs can get to. So I like the peace of mind knowing that our dogs won't get parasites. The eat so much off the ground you just never know. I also have a fecal sample tested every 3 months just to be on the safe side. It's a single pill given once a month. I think I have tried every product out there and can tell you the good and bad of the all

Word of advice don't use anything Topical (on the skin) if your weim is an avid swimmer

jaegertheweim · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

I use Interceptor year round

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

Sentinel is what my dogs have been taking also. But I can tell you that our Boomer (RIP) never ever had a flea in his 14 years and never ever had any parasites of any kind. Maybe that's why he lived to the ripe old age of 14? We never gave him any preventative meds of any kind.

weimdogmom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

Maybe you already saw this in your searching...

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_heartworm_prevention.html

It talks about if you don't use it all year (up to 4 months off) and a "Reach back effect" and the different preventatives. (Maybe this is where you saw the 30 days, it's mentioned at the bottom of the page?)

I also read somewhere that Heartgard must be chewed to be effective. If you have a dog that just swallows it, the tablet needs to be broken up. But with Tri-Heart, the generic form, it does not need to be chewed... I didn't know that (about either).

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:

No I had not read that link. Now IT says to count each degree above 57 degrees that is reached each day and add them together over a 30 day period and when that number reaches 234 you should treat with a preventative. Strange.... It doesn't say the low temps, just the degrees reached each day.

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

So say for instance that the temperature for a 30 day period is 77 degrees every single day. 77 is 20 degrees over 57 so multiply 20 X 30 which = 600 and is way over the 234 mark. But another website said that if nighttime temps are BELOW 57 degrees than the larvae cannot survive. Hmmmmm......

weimdogmom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

On another page of the same site they say:
A minimum environmental temperature of 57 degrees F is required throughout this period. The process goes faster in warmer weather.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_heartworm_-_the_parasite.html

DukesMom · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

Yep that's what I read. If the lows drop below 57 degrees than the larvae cannot survive. I wish there was some local info on cases in this area. Maybe my Vet can give me some UNBIASED info.

anne · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject:

Hey neighbor....

In our area we do not need to put our dogs on HW year round. And yes, you can go 45 days, not 30. As you know, we do not see too many mosquitos here. For my friends that live in the high desert, they do not have to give HW or any sort of flea meds AT ALL, it's that dry.

Don't stress over the recommended temps etc. because for those that do not keep their dogs on HW year round, you really ought to give your dogs a HW test before putting them on it. Remember, HW "preventative" is not a preventative, it works after the fact. So you should test your dog before you see the first mosquito or it gets hot enough for it, then with a negative result, put your dog on it. Typcialy as a general guideline mine are on HW from about June - Sept.