Just wanting to do a little research here-my vet reccomended that I start my 12 week old puppy on Interceptor to help prevent hrtworms, etc. I read the instructions on the box and it said, "before giving to dog, test for heartworms." Well, Kooper hasn't been tested....so should I ask her to test him first? Why do the instructions say that? Thanks!
Help! Vet reccomended Interceptor
- Thread starter ashmin
- Start date
Oh my god, thank goodness I didn't give it to him!!! I don't really get a good vibe from the vet anyways and have been thinking of switching!!! Something she did made me really mad last time I was there, here's the story....he had hookworms, so the first vet visit she gave me the pill to give him-when I got home I put it in a treat and he swallowed it down, happily! Next vet visit, without telling me what she was doing, she dewormed him again, but with this little pill pusher thing she stuck way down his throat and practically choked him!!! She did it so fast I didn't get to ask her what she was doing till it was already done! I could have easily put it in a treat! I want a vet that tells me everything they are doing BEFORE they do it...is that too much to ask?! Would you switch vets?
Okay, so Kooper has an appointment to see the vet on July 11th for more vaccinations (it'll be 3rd set). I'll just cancel it and ask my local pet food store what vet they reccomend. All I have to do is take his shot records to the new vet right? Just don't want to mess up his vaccination schedule or anything! I'm feeling much better about this now. I hope I can find a vet that I like and trust!
L
Geez, now I hear this! I was led to believe that if the dog hadn't been off the heartworm meds for more than a month that the vet didn't need to draw blood. Plus the guy never tested Gunner, just started him on heartworm meds. It's been 2 months (2 doses) for both and they are still alive, with no problems. Should I say something about a heartworm test or is it to late now?
The vet was like, "Oh, she hasn't been off the medication long enough." He also said something about it was winter when she went off the meds so there wasn't much of a chance that she'd have gotten any???
It's not like there is a big choice of vets around here. Now what?
The vet was like, "Oh, she hasn't been off the medication long enough." He also said something about it was winter when she went off the meds so there wasn't much of a chance that she'd have gotten any???
It's not like there is a big choice of vets around here. Now what?Hmm...
I don't think if they were already on it, that they needed to be tested after a certain amount of time like you mentioned LabBreeder.
But if the dog has never been on heart meds. than yes it should be tested.
As for the wintertime... I know with flea medication you go off it for the winter, and seeing as heartworm is spread by mosquitos maybe you go off it for the winter and back on in spring....
My vet didn't advise me to NOT get heartworm meds but hinted that they're weren't many cases in our area at all. I think there's a very select few people that put their dogs on it in my area unless they live out in the woods or by the water...
I don't think if they were already on it, that they needed to be tested after a certain amount of time like you mentioned LabBreeder.
But if the dog has never been on heart meds. than yes it should be tested.
As for the wintertime... I know with flea medication you go off it for the winter, and seeing as heartworm is spread by mosquitos maybe you go off it for the winter and back on in spring....
My vet didn't advise me to NOT get heartworm meds but hinted that they're weren't many cases in our area at all. I think there's a very select few people that put their dogs on it in my area unless they live out in the woods or by the water...
L
Ok Roxy. Well, she was tested in S.C. as a puppy and put on the meds then. When her meds ran out (and we were in MO) it was winter. By the time we got her and she was back on the meds winter was just ending in MO.
Gunner wasn't tested before the vet gave him his meds and that was in May. It wasn't really hot or many mosquitos out yet, but now I wish he'd have tested him first.
I will definitely keep them on heartworm meds as long as mosquitos are out, as well as in winter (just in case)! Mosquitos get pretty bad here...along with flies and gnats.
Gunner wasn't tested before the vet gave him his meds and that was in May. It wasn't really hot or many mosquitos out yet, but now I wish he'd have tested him first.
I will definitely keep them on heartworm meds as long as mosquitos are out, as well as in winter (just in case)! Mosquitos get pretty bad here...along with flies and gnats.
L
Cool, thanks Elegy. whew...hopefully there is nothing to worry about then. I'll just keep 'em on the pill. Do you think Tira should get a HW check anyways? Granted, she's been on the pill for 2 months with no adverse reactions, but what if when she was off the preventative that she was infected and they are just now where they could be detected? Would the preventative still kill them or will it end up hurting her if she keeps getting it monthly?
for me I personally think that a vet should have a good friendly relationship with you and your pet. If my animal seems to not be some what at ease or the vet seems to want to " treat and dash " then I don't go back.
I expect to be in all on his treatments as I own, love , and care for the pet also am paying for the treatments. I do not expect to have treatments done without me having a full understanding. I would not nor would I allow my children to take meds without me knowing about side effects and a general understanding of what the problem is. In your case you were not informed that there are dangers to the meds and you were uncomfortable with the way your pet was treated that would be enough for me to switch docs.
I expect to be in all on his treatments as I own, love , and care for the pet also am paying for the treatments. I do not expect to have treatments done without me having a full understanding. I would not nor would I allow my children to take meds without me knowing about side effects and a general understanding of what the problem is. In your case you were not informed that there are dangers to the meds and you were uncomfortable with the way your pet was treated that would be enough for me to switch docs.
I was a vet tech for 13 yrs at 5 different clinics and NO ONE tested 12 wk old pups for HW and I'm in Florida - heartworm central! I see it on the labeling now, but assume that is a protective measure due to lawsuits. Since it takes 6 mos for HWs to develop, starting a pup before it could have mature heartworms should be safe, but I would verify it with your vet. FWIW - I never test my pups and just start the meds at 10-12 wks and I've never had a HW positive dog.