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Heartworm testing - required?

Posted by dixies chick on 8/2/2012, 7:38 pm

I have been buying heartworm preventative meds for years from VIP/Happy Pet and my 2 dogs have been on it without fail for years. When I called to place an order, I was told they cannot without a current heartworm test on file. I then called my vet's office to schedule the tests and was basically told the same thing.

I checked the American Heartworm Society site and it says annual testing is "recommended". "Recommended" vs. "required seems I'm at the mercy of the vets if they won't prescribe the meds without the test.

I want to do what's right for my critters, but don't want to have to do something if it really isn't necessary. I was told by vets before that as long as the animal has been on the meds since their initial negative test, then annual testing isn't needed. What's changed?

Pleasant Hill, CA

Re: Heartworm testing - required?

Posted by Janet on 8/3/2012, 1:48 am, in reply to "Heartworm testing - required?"
64.85.240.39

If your dogs have been living in this part of the country throughout their life, I wouldn't think heartworm prevention would be necessary. It tends to be far more common in other regions, such as the south. Personally, I wouldn't bother having them on the medication unless you are planning a Florida vacation for them.

agree!

Posted by Shyhorsegrl on 8/3/2012, 11:56 am, in reply to "Re: Heartworm testing - required?"
134.186.130.250

Depending on the area your in, no need. This is one of the ways the small animals vets are making big money..

I disagree; Ive been a RVT in this area for 23 years

Posted by codymustang on 10/1/2012, 4:00 pm, in reply to "agree!"

and we do see it, more often than Id like to think. Its a tiny bit of prevention, and its not expensive to keep up. The treatment is very expensive; and can be life threatening if they do get it. Ever try comparing vet medical cost to human? Its cheap in comparison. The old saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" definately comes to mind.
But, ultimately your decision.

My vet agrees with you

Posted by Becky J. on 8/5/2012, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Heartworm testing - required?"
71.131.183.208

I just love him, quite conservative.

Re: My vet agrees with you

Posted by maverickbay on 8/6/2012, 12:04 am, in reply to "My vet agrees with you"
75.48.14.191

Umm....I just had a dog test positive for heart worms and he has lived in sacramento his whole 4 years of life.

Dani

I'm in the Bay Area

Posted by Becky J. on 8/6/2012, 4:56 pm, in reply to "Re: My vet agrees with you"
71.131.183.208

However, the vet did recommend the test, then medication, if I was planning to take the dogs camping, especially in woody areas.

I think 10-20 years ago that was the case...

Posted by Bethy on 8/7/2012, 3:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Heartworm testing - required?"
67.91.219.34

But heartworm has become far more prominent in California then it was in the past. If you have mosquitoes, you have the opportunity for heartworm transmission. We do an amalgam. I would rather not keep my dogs on heartworm meds year round. I get them tested every couple of years and stock up on meds. Then about 40 days after is gets warm enough for mosquitoes, we give a dose, and continue every 40 days until a month after the mosquitoes dissipate. In our area that tends to be gardening season. So far, we gave not had a positive test and the heartworm meds help with other parasites that our �indoor dogs that like to follow chickens around like little pez dispensers� may be exposed to.
http://blog.sfgate.com/pets/2011/06/15/is-heartworm-on-the-rise/

Re: Heartworm testing - required?

Posted by paintedponey on 8/9/2012, 7:45 am, in reply to "Heartworm testing - required?"
69.226.79.214

Most of the testing requirement has to do with California state law........heartworm preventative is a prescription medication and since it is a "prescription" most vets will not continue to write a script for any medication without seeing the dog at least once a year or every other at bare minimum. It would be the vet's themselves licenses on the line if they were to prescribe any medication to an unhealthy animal. So yes a lot of it is red tape but I would rather pay for a test every yr then to have to pay the rather high cost of heartworm treatment .....and trust me heartworm is indeed in California I work for a vets office and see at least 1 positive test a week for it!!!

thanks for the info

Posted by dixies chick on 8/10/2012, 9:38 am, in reply to "Re: Heartworm testing - required?"
67.174.214.214

Acc to the vet's perspective, the owner may say they give the med every month, but who's to know if that's really the case or if the dog throws it up. They also said that as a preventive, it's not a 100% guaranty and giving the meds to a dog w/heartworms could kill them. So since I needed a refill this month, i went ahead and tested both dogs--both negative!

Thanks!
Pleasant Hill, CA

Re:The first positive heart worm in CA was found in Tuolumne County.

Posted by fasthorses123 on 9/2/2012, 6:57 am, in reply to "Heartworm testing - required?"

Did you also know that heart worm is treated with massive dosses of Ivermectin. Massive dosses almost kill the dog. One of my vets told me to give all of my dogs a tiny dose of Ivermectin once a month and I could avoid the expensive heart worm meds. My dogs have all been in for different emergency visits to the vet and have been tested negative so my monthly Ivermectin must be working.
East of Sonora,CA Tuolumne County North East of Yosemite.

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