Dog Health Questions Dog Health Questions - Caring for your dog's health and well-being aren't always that easy. While our members may have good advice, it is just advice. Please use this section as a resource to discuss "diagnosed" conditions and treatment options for your dog.
*Important - All serious concerns with your dog's health and well-being should be handled by a Veterinarian, so please refrain from asking questions that are best suited for their office.
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03-06-2007, 01:16 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: canonsburg, pa
Posts: 6
|  Heart Worm Test
Hello everyone! i just bought my second shelter rescue puppy and would like to know if everyone gets the heartworm tests after leaving them off of Revolution, or another heartworm med. for the winter? i will gladly pay it but a coworker says it is just a veterinarian's money maker... your feedback very much appreciated!!
angela | 
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03-06-2007, 01:20 PM
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#2 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Two Rivers, WI
Posts: 7,566
| My understanding (which is usually somewhat limited) is that a dog should have a heartworm test if they've been off the meds because, if they already have heartworm, it can be dangerous to give the the meds.
Some people just give the meds all year 'round and some have them tested in the spring before mosquito season and before resuming the meds. | |
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03-06-2007, 01:51 PM
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#3 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: canonsburg, pa
Posts: 6
| thanks!
thanks for the info! | |
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03-06-2007, 02:01 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,819
| At our office we require all pets who are going to be on heartworm meds to have and anual heartworm test. No medicine is fail safe, vaccines and heartworm meds included. If your pet does have heartworm and you give then heartworm meds then you can kill the pet almost instantly. | |
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03-06-2007, 03:26 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 3,307
| Quote:
Originally Posted by animalcraker  If your pet does have heartworm and you give then heartworm meds then you can kill the pet almost instantly. | Actually, that's not exactly true. Some heartworm products are safe to give heartworm positive dogs, provided the microfilia counts aren't too high. Heartworm prevention works retroactively anyway...
Our dogs are heartworm tested every 12-18 months. They are on heartworm prevention year round. If my dog were off heartworm for any amount of time over 2-3 months, I'd have them tested before starting them back. | |
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03-06-2007, 06:10 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 757
| It really depends on the type of medication we're talking about here. Preventatives like Heartguard which contain Ivermectin are potentially fatal if given to a heartworm positive dog - so in that case, yes, it is necessary.
Which medication were you planning to use? | |
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03-06-2007, 10:11 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Carolina
Posts: 3,307
| Actually, ivermectin is one of the preventatives that is safe to give to heartworm positive dogs and is actually a treatment option for some Class 1 hw+ dogs. It won't kill adult heartworms, but it will make them sterile and shorten their lifespan while preventing further infection by killing off microfilia and L3/L4 larvae. Not the ideal way to treat heartworm, but is better than no treatment if the owner can't afford the traditional hw treatment.
Sentinel/Interceptor IS dangerous to give to dogs if their microfilia count is too high...so you would definitely not give that type of preventative to a dog that hasn't been tested.
edited to add: a heartworm test is usually $30 or less, so it's really worth it to just have it included as part of the annual exam. | |
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03-07-2007, 09:26 AM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pocono Mountains
Posts: 3,204
| Most makers of heartworm preventative stand behind their product, and if by chance your dog does develop heartworm while on their preventative, they will cover the cost of treatment up to a set amount. If your dog was not tested before going on the medication, there is no proof that that dog didn't have it before, and treatment won't be covered. Getting the test is almost like an insurance policy for the dog. | |
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03-08-2007, 09:35 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 255
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Lorina Most makers of heartworm preventative stand behind their product, and if by chance your dog does develop heartworm while on their preventative, they will cover the cost of treatment up to a set amount. If your dog was not tested before going on the medication, there is no proof that that dog didn't have it before, and treatment won't be covered. Getting the test is almost like an insurance policy for the dog. |
Ivermectin stood behind their product and refunded my vet costs when my dog turned up positive. I did have to have long standing proof of continuous use of their product, without interruptions. | |
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03-08-2007, 04:30 PM
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#10 | | Banned
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 960
| Quote:
Originally Posted by lovemygreys Actually, ivermectin is one of the preventatives that is safe to give to heartworm positive dogs and is actually a treatment option for some Class 1 hw+ dogs. It won't kill adult heartworms, but it will make them sterile and shorten their lifespan while preventing further infection by killing off microfilia and L3/L4 larvae. Not the ideal way to treat heartworm, but is better than no treatment if the owner can't afford the traditional hw treatment.
Sentinel/Interceptor IS dangerous to give to dogs if their microfilia count is too high...so you would definitely not give that type of preventative to a dog that hasn't been tested.
edited to add: a heartworm test is usually $30 or less, so it's really worth it to just have it included as part of the annual exam. | It was my understanding that the Ivermectin dose to kill Heartworms is much higher than the preventive dose in Heartguard. | |
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