Heartworm treatment every 2 months?

[Bailey08]

Has anyone used this approach? I'm a little reticent but considering it.

Bailey has IBD, an autoimmune disease. As a result, I prefer to limit "chemicals" where I can, and we all know that HW medicine is basically poison. Necessary, absolutely, but I don't like it.

Anyway, we went to a new homeopathic vet today. She has very good credentials, and I don't think she's a quack. She thinks I should give Bales his Heartgard every other month rather than monthly. She also suggested I give him Frontline "as needed."

Does anyone else do this? I'm plan to call his "traditional medicine" vet, too, to get his thoughts. I know that traditional and homeopathic vets can, and do, work together, but I always have a hard time where there are gaps (i.e., where they disagree).

 

[Fran101]

Ive heard of people in climates/areas where heartworm isnt a problem doing it once every 2 months, ive even heard of people only doing it during spring/summer.
seems to work well for them

how is ur area w/heartworm?

 

[bubbatd]

Having treated fosters for heartworm and seeing the result of those too far gone ... I don't take changes . I do stop after a few hard freezes , but start up after Spring thaws and heart worm tests .

 

[elegy]

iirc 45 days is the maximum time that one should go between heartworm pills.

i almost never use frontline on the bullies. we don't have a problem with fleas here, and i just check them closely for ticks. i have been using it on the hairy dog more regularly because i'll never find ticks on him.

 

[sillysally]

I wouldn't go more than 45 days, ESPECIALLY if your area is bad for heartworms. Even if it is a bit hard on his system I'm sure treating the heartworms would be much worse.

 

[Bailey08]

Thanks, everyone. I'm leaning towards 45 days but, again, will talk to his "regular" vet. I don't know whether our area is a super HW+ area, but my mom and brother both adopted HW+ around here -- and I know I don't want B to go through that.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I wait usually around 40-45 days to give it. Seems our area is less prevalent for heartworm then vets will tell you here.. but we still have some. I did see this thread a few days ago on another forum answered by a vet and found it interesting that apparently 2 months is fine for a missed dose.. but I'm not sure it's ideal to be doing it every two months. heartworm prevention, missed dose - Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca

 

[bubbatd]

My only concern is heart worms .....No worms for years .... except tape worms before the flea meds . So I'm on mosquito watch during off months .

 

[colliewog]

I'm in central Florida - lots of mosquitoes and HW positive dogs in this area - and I give Interceptor at a low dose (i.e. "Safeheart" dose), and I give at a 45 day interval. We're on our 4th straight year of negative HW tests with this regimen.

Edit - I only use topical flea meds if fleas are seen, usually 2-3 times a year at the most seems to hold them off for us.

 

[Bailey08]

I'm in central Florida - lots of mosquitoes and HW positive dogs in this area - and I give Interceptor at a low dose (i.e. "Safeheart" dose), and I give at a 45 day interval. We're on our 4th straight year of negative HW tests with this regimen.

Edit - I only use topical flea meds if fleas are seen, usually 2-3 times a year at the most seems to hold them off for us.

Thanks, colliewog. I'm in a similar environment, so that's helpful.

As for the fleas, how can you check for them? Recently, one of my mom's cats had a super allergic reaction to fleas, and none of us saw them (it actually took the vet a while to find one). Their dog was on meds but the fleas probably came in with her. Do you just look through their fur carefully? How often?

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Cider's gotten fleas a few times.. Generally I find them around her vajayjay fur.. Once when she'd had them a few days there was flea dirt there too. I've never found any on Smudge, but being black it's so much harder to be looking.

 

[bubbatd]

Our black cat was infested with fleas and I didn't know it . This was before the flea meds and she never scratched . She died peacefully at 20 plus yrs . curled up next to my Bushwacker . I wrapped her and put her in a shoe box to take her to be cremated the next day . When I unwrapped her the blanket was covered with fleas !! I didn't know about looking for flea dirt back then . Poor old gal .....I wish I had known !

 

[goldiefur]

I live in Louisiana and we have mosquitoes really bad even during the winter. I give HG every 45 days and the dogs have tested fine every time. I also give Frontline plus as needed usually the beginning of the summer but this year it was not necessary.

 

[smkie]

Having treated fosters for heartworm and seeing the result of those too far gone ... I don't take changes . I do stop after a few hard freezes , but start up after Spring thaws and heart worm tests .

me too grammy...i don't see a reason from nov to jan.