If you miss your dog's heartworm injection (every 6 months) appointment by 7 days, is it necessary to have him tested before administering the next dose? (Please read comment)
What happens if you forget to give your dog heartworm medicine?A: Give the dose you missed immediately, then continue giving the medication on the day you've always given it. If the missed dose is more than 2 weeks late, your dog should be tested for heartworm again in six months (click here to learn why).Jul 19, 2011Yikes! I forgot to give my dog's heartworm pill! - Priority Pet HospitalPriority Pet Hospital › 2011/07 › forg...MORE RESULTSIf they insist that the test is necessary they should cover it. They made the late appointment.If they refuse … find another veterinarian!
Missed dog's heartworm preventative- okay to give? Any vet or vet techs?
Okay, feel horrible and have only done this one other time in 20 years of having dogs. Due to a death in the family and life being turned upside down, I have messed up my dogs schedule. He takes Interceptor. He normally takes it year round even though we only have mosquitoes a few months of the year. Plus, the vet does a yearly blood test for heartworm anyway. We also saw our first mosquitoes tonight and we are outside every night. I missed 2 months; his end of April and May doses. It is now time for June's and I am just realizing I messed up. His last dose was given end of March and he had a negative blood test right before that. So, is it okay to go ahead and resume with this month's dose or does he need to go to the vet for another heartworm blood test? Yes, I called his vet but they are out of the office until next Monday and an emergency clinic would not answer over the phone. THANKS
If my 13 year old dog missed 2 months of heartworm medicine can or should I return her to a med. at her age?
not without a blood test from your vet first. Mine are on heartworm prevention the whole year round. I discontinued it in the first winter I had my first of three dogs, and when I went back in the spring to get more, the vet wouldn't prescribe them without a blood test first. As inexpensive as the tablets are, it's best to just continue them nonstop! An ounce of prevention, ya know!!
Why do vets require dogs have a heartworm test before giving them preventative heartworm meds?
OK- So, about 9 months ago my vet asked me if I wanted to get my dog tested for hw and put her on hw meds. I couldn't afford it so I said no. The vet tech took me aside and told me that the test was a scam, but she ended up testing my dog anyway for free. Now I have another dog and I am in the same situation. I have a friend who knows a lot about dogs and thinks it is a scam too. What is the point of the test? Is it true or just a rumor that if they have heartworm and go on the meds that they will die? What are the chances of that? What are the risks???? Side effects??? Is it true that the preventative med and the treatment for heartworm is the SAME? Thanks!!!!
Can my 11-lb. dog still take his old heartworm meds if the box says they are for dogs 2-10 lbs.?
Two months ago I bought a 6-month supply of Sentinel heartworm/flea preventative tablets for $60. The tablets I bought are recommended for dogs 2-10 lbs., but my puppy is now up to 11 lbs. Do you think I can still get away with giving him the Sentinel tablets, or are those weight guidelines pretty strict? I of course don't mind buying more tablets, but if I can save time, money, and a trip to the vet, that would be good too :-) FYI, the puppy is a 7-month-old mutt (Jack Russell x Silky Terrier). Lastly, I bought Sentinel because that's what the vet recommended, but if you know of anything that's effective and comes at a lower cost, I'd love to get some recommendations.
Should I still give my 13 yr. old dog heartworm med. once a month?
A 13 year old dog that has been regularly vaccinated could stop taking vaccinations. The dog could not stop taking heartworm preventative. Vaccines don't "build up", but they do last a lot longer than you may think. A vaccine will last from 3-7 years, or even for the life of a dog. By age 13, I would stop with regular vaccines for DHLPP-rabies will still be required by law every 1 to 3 years in the US, depending on local ordinances.
Forgot to give my dog heartguard?
No, your dog is fine. It really depends on where you live and what the mosquito population is but, I am in NV and I gave my dog heartguard faithfully for 14 years. I found him a new and better vet just recently and he said that my dog had a better chance of getting hit by lightning in a shopping mall then to catch heart worm. Supposedly, a mosquito has to bite a dog infected with heart worms and then immediately bite your dog in order for your dog to get it so, if you aren't in a high mosquito area, I wouldn't worry. I no longer give it to my dog. The vet said that it was like giving my dog a small dose of poison every month because that is what kills heart worm. But, if you have a lot of mosquitos, I would make sure that you give it to your dog. Your vet may want to do blood work. If you give a dog with heart worms heart guard, it will kill the worms but then the worms that die get trapped in and block the blood vessels and arteries and it kills the dog. That's why the blood work. You can't give an infected dog heartguard. It will kill him. But, you are only a couple of weeks off so I wouldn't worry too much at all. I'm sure he will be fine. You've probably already read my answer so I'll just add this. You added that you are in a high mosquito area. I would ask for the blood work to be done just to be sure. If he did get heart worm in that time period, which I doubt that all of the meds were totally out of his system in such a short while, but if he did get it, I wouldn't continue treatment as it will kill him. Get the blood work done to be safe.
Help! How long does heartworm medicine stay in the system?
Hi everyone. My dog ran out of heart worm medication and so he hasn't taken it in May or April. Financial issues came up and we haven't been able to take him back to the vet. I got a new job and once I get paid he will be going back to the vet this month to get tested and more heart worm medication. He is a two year old schnauzer and he last took it in April. He is an inside dog but we get mosquitos inside every now and again and I take him for walks outside. Is there a chance the medication is still in his system? I'm just worried because he has gone without medication, something that has never happened before. By the way, I live in Houston and we get TONS of mosquitos Also, can heart worms be treated?