SearchHeart Worms and Ivermectin Products
I was using heartgard 30 + (ivermectin/pyrantel) . A friend of mine had said that his vet told him that " heartgard " was not preventing dogs from getting heart worms . My vet explained it to me like this :
The Ivermectin (active ingredient to prevent heartworms ) stays in the dogs system for about 48 hours killing off the microfilariae thus preventing adult heartworms to form . They (the vets) have found that mostly in the western states ( some case have been noticed in western Louisiana , my state) that some of the microfilariae have been living through the treatment and building an immunity to the ivermectin thus allowing the microfilariae to develop into adult heartworms . I was told that Merck , the maker of Heartgard , will pay to treat a dog that develops heartworms that are on thier product . Ain't that nice !
Well I no longer use Ivermectin products to prevent heartworms .
Talk to your vet about this .
after one of my cats almost died from tick/flea medicine, i've been very careful about what I give them. She was extremely weak, borderline having seizures, and it was an extremely helpless feeling after the vet said there's nothing you can do, just wait it out and see what happens. Apparently much of the medicine, since it's not for people and is considered a "pesticide" instead of "medicine", they don't have to meet the same requirements that they would if it was a person taking them. I will never cheap out on medicine, and make sure to do my research before I give my animals anything. It's important to do your resarch, and talk to your vet before giving anything, especially a product you have never used before.
Photo Gallery
Dobies of MinePet Profiles
In my history with Dobes and previous dogs, I have only had one that had heartworms, and she came back to me with them. (I had loaned her to my niece in Texas for about a year and found out because of the cost she had not given Betsy the preventative). I think I would ask my vet if you are concerned.
Remember that no treatment is 100% effective, and by treating them monthly along with keeping them indoors most of the time will reduce the risk. It may also not be the ivermectin in the dogs that the microfilariae become immune to but the ivermectine in cattle that may be nearby. It is heavily used in them as well.
At one time I had my dogs on the 6 month injection, but there were some bad side effects in some dogs (I never saw any) and my vet quit giving the injections.