reality check on whats been a good week...

[goosebruce]

My mom called a while ago. good news bad news. her scream dog (da juices sister) finally tested clear for hartworms. Bad news, her char dog (ok, OUR char dog) is now testing postive. Char has been in a kennel next to da juice for 8 months, and taking hartguard from the same box... whats the chance juice isnt postive? Already time for an annual and to have hips done, so I guess I'll find out in next week or two when i schedual it. It sure does suck to find 2 of ours with hartworms in a year, if its 3 Im gonna freak. travis

[Doc & Nash]

Get with Sprig, Heartguard is paing for Spooks treatment.

[skuna]

that sucks......I just don't trust heartguard anymore. I still have a few chewables left and may give to dogs along with the Ivomectin but no way just by itself. I mean what is the point of the heartguard? How many dogs on this board tested positive over the last year or so and I believe everyone of them were on HG.

Also had someone tell me the other day that the test has gotten so sensitive that they can detect the slightest amount of parasites, which would never even hurt the animal if given Ivomectin every month to keep them at minimal levels.

I talked to my vet about it and all he said is well it's not 100%. Looks like if the Ivemectin kills the parasite most of the time, it would work all of the time. He went on to say that HG will pay for the treatment. Well screw that, I'm not looking for insurance.....I want protection.

[Troy Williams]

Do like I did....Don't know if it's better but I think it is based on my research. I give Interceptor on the 15th and HG on the first. Interceptor kills microfils at stages L2 & L3 & HG kills them at stages L4 & L5 or vice versa.

I don't know what else to do at this point.

[skuna]

Ivermectin and Polyglycol mixture from a local vet. He is saying that the heart guard misses because there can be batches where little or no Ivermectin is present.

I have another dog that all I have every given is .5 cc of straight ivermectin and she has never tested positive.


I will say that one has to think about the money generated by heartworm treatments and preventatives.

[Duck Chaser]

hate to hear that travis.

I've thought about doubling up on prevenative. and plan to ask my vet about that mixture. with 3 dogs over the years, I've never had a positive using heartguard, but obviously lots of folks are having problems. are there any reports of problems or side effects from too much ivermectin? does interceptor contain a different ingredient? I suspect so, if it works at a different phase.

[BrettG]

Check with your vet on having your heartworm meds. special made. I have been on mine for 1 1/2 and love it. I have a mixture made for all my dogs that includes Praziquantel (85 mg), Ivermectin (116 mcg), Pyrantel (97 mg), Lufenuron (168 mg). This dose of 2 capsules takes care of heartworms, tapeworms, and has a flea treatment. Cost is about 25 bucks more than heartguard for the year but is cheaper than dosing for tapeworms periodically. Haven't had fleas or tapeworms since starting this treatment and all are negative for heartworms. Roadrunner Pharmacy is the supplier.

[skuna]

DC, a fellow I grew up with who is now a vet told me that there are some breeds that can't handle any Ivermectin, collie breeds can die from a single dose, but that Labs can handle fairly high doses.

[Troy Williams]

hate to hear that travis.

does interceptor contain a different ingredient? I suspect so, if it works at a different phase.

Interceptor = milbemyecin (sp?)
HG = Ivermectin

[wesley hamm]

travis,

I know exactly how you feel at this point! "Tuff" was diagnosed last month with heartworms, has been on straight ivormectin......so no dog is actually 100% safe.

I have heard of dogs getting heartworms with everything on the market.

Good luck and I hope for the best.

[skuna]

Wes, What was the dosage?

[wesley hamm]

Wes, What was the dosage?

body weight divided by 110 which is pretty much universal according to my three different vets and other pro's that I have discussed it with.

tuff was getting .68 since he weighed in at 75lbs.

all the other dogs in the kennel are fine and they were on the same regimen.

[wesley hamm]

and travis,

it is an ongoing epidemic along the delta area, SEVERAL dogs have been tested positive and they have been on every thing under the sun. Honestly I think there is a strain out there that is unaffected by our treatments (of course that is just my opinion) since so many dogs are coming up positive in a fairly recent timeframe.

again good luck with the treatment and he'll come through just fine. "Tuff" is on his first week being crated and so far so good. Dr. said he should be ready to go in a few months

[Jay Dufour]

In 23 years.....no heartworm on my dogs with Ivermectin/ polyglycol......two client dogs came down with it on heartguard.

[Doc & Nash]

Hey WillowOak,

Who gave you the formula for your preventative?????

It sounds interisting, I would like some more info on it if you have thetime.

Thanks