Heartworm prevention

[csrichie]

I was wondering if its possible to start heartworm prevention medicine since we had not given our dog prevention this summer.

The testing for heartworm does take some time. and i dont know if its too late now and that i should wait for 7 month after the season ends.

(an article i read suggested that it does take time for the heartworm to develope before it can be noticed using blood test)

We live in a town (brockville, ontario) in Canada, during our annual check up our vet did not suggest hearworm treatment. From a report i read from 2000, there is only 1 dog that had been infected with heartworm and its traveling route is unknown (does not stay in the area). Should i be worrying about my dog this summer and not let her out after 7p.m.?



Heartworm report in southern ontario 2000
http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/PathoBio/.../ONT-HW-00.pdf

quoted from
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=609&SourceID=
" If a dog lives in an area considered not to have heartworm and travels to an area that IS considered to have heartworm, both microfilaria and antigen testing should performed at least seven months after the last day the dog was present in the heartworm endemic area. "

[Kade]

Not really sure... Southern California has not been, in the past, a problem area for heartworm, but due to changing migratory patterns of mosquitoes, they're now recommending the preventative treatment pretty commonly.

2000 seems like too long ago to rely on that research. Better safe than sorry!

(My vet told me that heartworm take 2.5-3 months to "take hold", so maybe you're not in the danger period yet if you begin treatment now? Someone else should verify that.)

[momtobella]

I am in Florida and I have to keep my dogs on hwp year round. I don't know about everywhere else but we have to get a blood test on the dog to get a prescription, even if the dog has been on preventative. It only takes a minute or so to find out the results.

[mulroony]

I am near Chicago Illinois and I try to keep my dogs on it year round, but might miss some of the colder months. I can't imagine the medicine doing any damage by starting it now as opposed to a month ago, but not being on it could cause damage in a month...

[HersheysMom]

my vet started my first dog on hwp as soon as she was done with her booster shots. All the vet did was look at a stool sample. I, personally, would start hwp after my experience with Harley. We put her on hwp and she still had problems twice. But I'm in Alabama and we have bad mosquitos here. Call your vet and ask to be sure, though.

[DFrost]

Heartworm tests are done with a blood sample. The answer to the question is easy, if you have mosquitoes, your dog needs to be on a heartworm preventative. Granted, those of you in the shivering north may not need to be on a preventative year round, however those of us below ole mason's and dixon's line should seriously consider it.

DFrost

[D.Schäferhund]

hi
talked to my vet, you do not need it in the colder month. it has to be over 84 degrees fahrenheit for atleast a week, for the eggs to develope in the Moskitos. , when it is colder it is not necessary (in the cold month of cours) not when the te,p drops for a couple weeks.
i would say give it, better save then sorry... maybe she doesn't have them yet, so she will be protectet from now on then...

[Pugdawg1]

I had a chat with my vet about doing heartworm preventative. For this area, he recommended against it. He said in 9 years, he's seen 5 heartworm positive dogs, and every single dog had come in from out of state.
Local all breed dog rescue has not had a heartworm positive dog come through their rescue yet.

So we have opted against it. Yup, we have some spring time mosquitos, but heartworm is a rarity here.

[mulroony]

Map

I know you are in Canada, but here is a map of heartworm by percentage in the USA. I am not sure if you can find the same for Canada.

[elegy]

you can start heartworm preventative at any time after a negative heartworm test. i'm in PA and i keep my dogs on it year-round. my coworker had her dogs off for four months and 2 of the 4 tested positive and had to be treated. and i guarantee you, the treatment is no fun for anybody.

[csrichie]

My region doesnt seem to have that much heartworm cases,(1 in 2004 none so far) however i am planing to have my dog on prevention next year. I asked the vet and told me i have to wait for 6 month after infection to perform test (otherwise it wont shown as positive). Have to wait until Jan. at least before i have her tested for heartworm. Thanks for all your helps

If anyone are looking for information on canada heartworm cases:
http://www.dirofilariaimmitis.ca/

[YK Shepherd]

Originally Posted by csrichie

I was wondering if its possible to start heartworm prevention medicine since we had not given our dog prevention this summer.

The testing for heartworm does take some time. and i dont know if its too late now and that i should wait for 7 month after the season ends.

(an article i read suggested that it does take time for the heartworm to develope before it can be noticed using blood test)

We live in a town (brockville, ontario) in Canada, during our annual check up our vet did not suggest hearworm treatment. From a report i read from 2000, there is only 1 dog that had been infected with heartworm and its traveling route is unknown (does not stay in the area). Should i be worrying about my dog this summer and not let her out after 7p.m.?



Heartworm report in southern ontario 2000
http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/PathoBio/.../ONT-HW-00.pdf

quoted from
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=609&SourceID=
" If a dog lives in an area considered not to have heartworm and travels to an area that IS considered to have heartworm, both microfilaria and antigen testing should performed at least seven months after the last day the dog was present in the heartworm endemic area. "

Hi I originally come from Lansdowne, Ontario and no one knows where that is but I bet you do. My parents live there, anyway, the vets here are saying that heart worm tests every 2-3 years and to maintain the prevention from Apr-Nov, depending on the weather. If cold not as long, if warm longer. PM if you want to chat more about the towns. Small world for sure.