The first thing that must happen before you even consider putting your dog on a heartworm preventative program is to ensure he gets a heartworm test done by your veterinarian. The American Heartworm Society's recommendation that all dogs should be tested annually is becoming widely accepted. If there are microfilariae present in the blood test, the youngest form of the heartworm larvae, this means that there are also adult worms present. Heartworm preventative medicines will not kill adult heartworms although they may shorten their lifespan.
Heartworm preventative medications are very effective in protecting your dog but it is very important to verify the fact that there are no adult worms. Puppies over six months old will also be tested if they have not already begun on a heartworm preventative.
Heartworm preventatives come in three varieties that are most commonly used today. 1)An injection which is given twice a year by a vet and which effectively protects your dog all year round. 2)Heartworm pills which are divided into two types, the plain pills or the chewable type. These are given monthly on the same day each month. 3)Heartworm preventatives called 'spot on treatments' or topical treatments which can simply be 'spotted' onto your dog's skin as directed.
Heartworm pills of whatever type you choose function much the same in that they kill the juvenile heartworm larvae. These will not prevent mosquitoes from biting your dog so heartworm prevention must continue to protect your dog from infection.
In case your dog is stubborn about taking pills, try hiding the monthly heartworm tablet in a tasty treat of meat or cheese. Heartworm chewables were designed to be tasty and avoid the problem of getting the dog to take a pill but, whilst almost all dogs love the taste, some are allergic to some of the ingredients which makes this type of preventative unsuitable for some dogs.
If you choose the topical heartworm preventative, you will find it easy to use and have the added reassurance that it also controls fleas and ticks as well as other internal parasites.
Check with your veterinary if you realise that you have forgotten to give your dog his heartworm preventative pills as protection will be reduced if the medicine is not given regularly. Should you find that you have forgotten to give your dog a couple of doses of the medicine -or even more, your vet will almost certainly recommend another heartworm test before recommencing preventative treatment.
If you decide at any time to change from one type of preventative to another, make sure that you change at the time you should have given the next dose of the product your dog is currently on. This way, you make sure that there is no 'doubling up' of heartworm medication that could give your dog a problem.
Heartworm preventative medications are very effective in protecting your dog but it is very important to verify the fact that there are no adult worms. Puppies over six months old will also be tested if they have not already begun on a heartworm preventative.
Heartworm preventatives come in three varieties that are most commonly used today. 1)An injection which is given twice a year by a vet and which effectively protects your dog all year round. 2)Heartworm pills which are divided into two types, the plain pills or the chewable type. These are given monthly on the same day each month. 3)Heartworm preventatives called 'spot on treatments' or topical treatments which can simply be 'spotted' onto your dog's skin as directed.
Heartworm pills of whatever type you choose function much the same in that they kill the juvenile heartworm larvae. These will not prevent mosquitoes from biting your dog so heartworm prevention must continue to protect your dog from infection.
In case your dog is stubborn about taking pills, try hiding the monthly heartworm tablet in a tasty treat of meat or cheese. Heartworm chewables were designed to be tasty and avoid the problem of getting the dog to take a pill but, whilst almost all dogs love the taste, some are allergic to some of the ingredients which makes this type of preventative unsuitable for some dogs.
If you choose the topical heartworm preventative, you will find it easy to use and have the added reassurance that it also controls fleas and ticks as well as other internal parasites.
Check with your veterinary if you realise that you have forgotten to give your dog his heartworm preventative pills as protection will be reduced if the medicine is not given regularly. Should you find that you have forgotten to give your dog a couple of doses of the medicine -or even more, your vet will almost certainly recommend another heartworm test before recommencing preventative treatment.
If you decide at any time to change from one type of preventative to another, make sure that you change at the time you should have given the next dose of the product your dog is currently on. This way, you make sure that there is no 'doubling up' of heartworm medication that could give your dog a problem.
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