Do dogs really need heartworm medicine?

One of the most common questions heard by our veterinarians during an annual wellness exam is, “Does my pet really need heartworm prevention?” To put it simply: yes! Even if your pet is considered “indoors-only,” all cats and dogs should be on a heartworm prevention medication.

Is it really necessary to give your dog heartworm medicine?

Heartworm disease can be prevented in dogs and cats by giving them medication once a month that also controls various internal and external parasites. Heartworm infections are diagnosed in about 250,000 dogs each year. 1 But there is no good reason for dogs to receive preventives all year; it is just not needed.

What happens if my dog doesn't take heartworm medicine?

Heartworm disease is a very serious parasitic disease that has the potential to be fatal for your dog if he is not treated quickly. This parasite is a worm that can grow up to a foot long and lives inside the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of an infected animal where it will reproduce over and over.

Is it OK to skip heartworm medicine?

Most of the monthly heartworm medicines have a safety factor of at least 15 days of protection if a dose is missed. This means that if you're just a week or two late, your pet is likely still within that window of protection and would be unlikely to become infected during that time.

How long can a dog go without heartworm pills?

Any time a dog goes more than six weeks without heartworm prevention the dog is at risk of infection. Dogs with mature infections (in which hearworms are mating and producing larvae in the bloodstream) may experience a shock-like adverse reaction to heartworm prevention.

Is Heartworm Prevention Really Necessary?

Is there a natural way to prevent heartworms in dogs?

Are There Natural Heartworm Prevention Options? While there are natural ways to slightly decrease the likelihood that your dog will develop heartworm disease, none are effective enough to make skipping prescription heartworm preventatives a wise or safe decision.

What are the first signs of heartworms in dogs?

Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen.

How does a dog get heartworms?

Heartworm disease is not contagious, meaning that a dog cannot catch the disease from being near an infected dog. Heartworm disease is only spread through the bite of a mosquito. Inside a dog, a heartworm's lifespan is 5 to 7 years.

Do older dogs need heartworm medicine?

Keep your senior dog's heartworm preventive as well as flea and tick control updated. Once a year, you can expect your senior dog to be tested for tick-borne infection, heartworm disease, and intestinal parasites.

What time of year do dogs get heartworm?

Yes, dogs can get heartworms in the winter. As heartworm larvae spread through mosquito bites, some people believe dogs can't get heartworm in the winter, as mosquitoes are inactive. However, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it's essential you deworm your dog year-round.

Are heartworm pills bad for dogs?

Given at the proper doses and under the supervision of a veterinarian, ivermectin is safe for most dogs and is very effective in treating and preventing a number of parasites. However, a dog with the mutation who ingests the drug can have a severe, life-threatening reaction called ivermectin toxicity.

How can I get heartworm prevention without going to the vet?

Go to ABC Online Pharmacy (see resources) if you don't mind using the generic brand of Heartgard. This will save you a lot of money over the course of a year, and the generic brand is known for being just as good as Heartgard. You don't need a prescription since the company is based in Canada.

Do dogs need heartworm medicine year-round?

Use Heartworm Prevention Medication Year-Round

Treatment can vary, as oral, injectable or topical, depending on the animal species, but they all target heartworm larvae, not adults. That's one reason veterinarians often recommend that pets receive heartworm prevention medication all year long.

Where is heartworm most prevalent?

Heartworm infection was diagnosed nationwide.

According to the AHS survey, the top 5 states in heartworm incidence were Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee—all states that have been in the top tier since the AHS began tracking incidence data in 2001.

What is the success rate of heartworm treatment?

There is some risk involved in treating dogs with heartworms, although fatalities are rare. "A new drug is available that does not have as many side effects, allowing successful treatment of more than 95% of dogs with heartworms."

Is heartworm medicine necessary in winter?

As winter descends upon New England in full force, more and more dog owners ask us if we recommend continuing heartworm prevention through the winter months. The short answer is yes. The American Heartworm Society recommends year-round heartworm prevention, and we agree.

How often do dogs get heartworm?

Because heartworms must be eliminated before they reach this adult stage, it is extremely important that heartworm preventives be administered strictly on schedule (monthly for oral and topical products and every 6 months or 12 months for the injectable).

How important is heartworm prevention for dogs?

What they do is prevent a major infestation. In fact, if a dog has a mild heartworm infestation, a veterinarian might recommend treating it with a heartworm preventative over a course of several months.

Why is heartworm prevention so expensive?

Many factors affect the cost associated with treating heartworm infection, including diagnostic testing, hospitalization, medication, and office visits. The current drug of choice is Immiticide, and due to manufacturing issues, is difficult to obtain and as a result is expensive.

Do dogs need flea and heartworm medicine?

No matter where you live and no matter your lifestyle, dogs and cats should be on heartworm, flea, and tick prevention year-round. Even if you have an inside-only cat or mini dog, they still need protection! It's much better for your pets' health to be safe rather than sorry.

How much does heartworm prevention cost?

Heartworm prevention requires a prescription from your veterinarian, and it is generally administered monthly as a tablet that costs between $6 and $18 per month. You can also opt for an injection.

What are the side effects of heartworm medication?

Oral Heartworm Medications

There are rarely side effects, if given at the proper dosage, but some dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or incoordination. In the case of an allergic response to the heartworm medication, a dog may experience itching, hives, swelling of the face, or even seizures or shock.

Should I give my dog Heartguard?

Is Heartgard Safe for All Dogs? Heartgard and Heartgard Plus are considered safe for most dogs, including pregnant and breeding dogs, but there are some exceptions. Ivermectin is not recommended for use in puppies under six weeks of age, so Heartgard should be started at this age and no sooner.

Does heartworm treatment shorten a dogs life?

This treatment does not actually kill the worms, however it does decrease their lifespan; keep in mind, however, that the average heartworm can live six years, so shortening that lifespan could still mean your dog having a heartworm infection for four more years.

What is the safest heartworm preventative for dogs?

Conventional preventatives

The two most common (and generally considered safe) heartworm preventative ingredients used today are ivermectin (used in Heartgard by Merial, and other products) and milbemycin oxime (used in Interceptor by Novartis).