Heartworm treatment and prevention

Simon Dobson

the heartworm thread made me scared for my dog. i've been giving my jorja heartgard as a prevention. it was recommended by her vet. i'd like to know if there are other precautions i should take to make sure she doesn't get any worms. thanks guys in advance.

Amelia Bowman · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

i guess cleaning up your place will probably help. since heartworms are transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, maintaining a clean environment might help keep mosquitoes away from your home and from your pet.

Angela Gellis · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:50 pm Post subject:

It will be good to have your pet regularly checked for heartworm so you can closely monitor his condition and prevent any infection. Wink

Douglas Barr · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 9:24 am Post subject:

I heard that giving your pet monthly heartworm preventative medicine is recommended to prevent these parasites; also, regular check-ups with your vet at least once a year.

Eleni Gordon · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject:

as i've said in another thread, detecting heartworms can be tricky. they infest your dog and you might not even know it. so a good way to keep your dog from being infected is to have them tested for heartworms in a regular basis. i think once a month would be okay.

Gina Cavendish · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject:

can you administer a heartworm test on your dog yourself? or is it something only vets can do? i want to check my dog for heartworms. all this talk about heartworms got me worried!

Irvin Zelasko · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:45 am Post subject:

I suggest, Gina, that you bring your dog to a vet. We shouldn't take chances when it comes to our pet's lives. Unfortunately, I haven't heard of a heartworm test that can be done without the assistance of a vet.

Liz Munro · Flea egg Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 74

hey Gina, don't take the risk of doing heartworm tests by yourself. i think vets are experts in doing these things properly.

Amelia Bowman · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

right. just let the vet do the heartworm tests. he or she can also prescribe the best medication for your pet.

Megan Turnbull · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

using preventive medicine is good. you could also make sure that your place is clean and mosquito-free.

Beatrice Dixon · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

preventive medicines must help. I know they do not just protect dogs from heartworms but from other parasites as well.

Gina Cavendish · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

oh, i see. i'm curious, though... are heartworm tests invasive?

Eleni Gordon · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

i don't think so, gina. vets usually use the antigen test. it's similar to a pregnancy test.

Gina Cavendish · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:55 am Post subject:

all right. thanks eleni. i don't see any symptom of heartworms in marky but i'm still going to schedule him for a vet appointment sometime in the near future. better to be safe than sorry!

Beatrice Dixon · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

yes gina, better safe than sorry! if you can fight the disease then do something now, right? a trip to the vet is certainly the first step towards prevention.

Jennifer Trenton · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject:

bringing your dog to the vet at least once a year is really advisable. heartworm or no heartworm.

Gina Cavendish · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

hey guys! had my pet checked for heartworms just this weekend.. good news! no heartworms!

Jennifer Trenton · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:31 am Post subject:

that's good news, Gina! I'm happy for you and your dog. I hope you got heartworm preventatives from your vet.

Pauline Weiss · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

that's great gina! well, i hope you become extra careful now.