Comments on: Heartworm: Keep Your Dog Protected

By: brittany

brittany — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:54:10 +0000

Do I need a prescription for my dogs’ heartworm meds to get them drs. Foster and Smith? my vet REALLY REALLY HATES it when I ask for a written scrip, so much so I won’t do it.

By: Ellen B.

Ellen B. — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:37:19 +0000

Deborah, I agree, it is a heartbreaking decision. I must say that the economic times is one reason that Dr. Race Foster & Dr. Marty Smith decided to offer free shipping on all cat & dog pharmacy and healthcare products. They are really good people and have the best interest of pets in their heart. Thank you for your comment….sad but true.

By: Deborah W.

Deborah W. — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:06:29 +0000

It’s so sad to hear stories about pet owners who are cutting back on their pet’s routine medication, such has heartworm. I know a few neighbors that have had to make that tough decision. They both involve a spouse losing a job.

It’s very sad to hear, but I can understand. It’s either that or not having food on the table to feed their family. I just pray their dogs don’t get heartworm disease in the meantime. That would be tragic.

By: Dr. Scott A. McKay

Dr. Scott A. McKay — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:21:27 +0000

Peggy, according to the American Heartworm Society, you should start giving your dog its monthly heartworm preventative right away and have your dog tested for heartworm disease in 6-7 months. The reason for testing is that it takes this parasite this length of time to mature into an adult heartworm. It is the adult heartworm that is detected when testing. Meanwhile the monthly preventative will kill-off any larval heartworms that may have been introduced by a recent mosquito bite. In addition, if you are using one of the broad spectrum monthly products that also targets intestinal parasites (Heartgard Plus, Interceptor, etc) your dog will benefit from that. Best of luck.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:22:21 +0000

Oh I love that email reminder service, I’m going to sign up. I heard that it was dangerous to give your dog a pill if you’ve missed too long. How long is too long? Unfortunately, I’ve missed 3 months. Can I safely give her a pill now? If not, should I bring her to the vet for a heartworm test first? Thank you!

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:27:09 +0000

That email reminder service is great! Just signed up to receive reminders for giving my dog his heartworm pills and for putting his flea and tick preventive on him. I never quite understood what the heartworm pills were exactly preventing, but after reading this I am going to make sure I don’t let his monthly pill get forgotten! Good info.

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:22:50 +0000

Personally, I miss Filaribits. It was SO much easier to remember a daily pill than a monthly one, or adjust the dosage as your puppy grew. I would just leave the bottle in the food conatiner, and put the pill(s) in the bowl(s) when I scooped out the food. Now, even though it is marked on my calander, I will often give the montly pill several days late. After I accidently gave Lucky a heartworm pill twice, thinking that I had forgotten, I now cross it off when I give out monthly heartworm/flea preventatives.

Living on the Gulf Coast, it is very important to keep up with treatment. Down here, if a dog hasn’t been on prevention, you can almost assume that it will have heartworms. Also, cats can get heartworms, so it is important to treat your cats too, especially if they go outside.

By: Tweets that mention Heartworm: Keep Your Dog & Cat Protected -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Heartworm: Keep Your Dog & Cat Protected -- Topsy.com — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:20:14 +0000

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