Vet Offered Proheart Dog Injection Before Having Bloodtest For Heartwo

[matilda1]

Like I said, I will try and find out for you.

We are informed of these things but aren't always given the literature.

We're ECC Nurses not scientists.

I will try and find out for you.

At the end of the day it's personal choice if you treat all year 'round or not.

I'll be there to save your dog if it does get infected

[Erny]

I think they are just saying that the risk outweighs the benefit of stopping the treatment for one or maybe two months.

It's a big gamble and we do see the infections in winter.

Actually, in Melbourne, it can be for almost the full year. It's not that often we have temps 14C and above for at least 2 weeks or more (including night time temps) in one constant run. I think it did occur in March/April when we had that "Indian Summer" type weather.

It would be good to see where the information you have chosen to rely on is actually coming from, and the studies that back it up. I know you said you don't have it but will try to source it out. Thanks .

Edited June 5, 2010 by Erny

[Erny]

Like I said, I will try and find out for you.

We are informed of these things but aren't always given the literature.

We're ECC Nurses not scientists.

I will try and find out for you.

What's an "ECC" Nurse? Pardon my ignorance. I'm thinking "Emergency something or other". I'm sure it will be obvious once you tell me.

I query literature and its source because sometimes one can find the info comes from the drug manufacturers who of course have vested interest. Regardless, I like to know that important information such as this (ie that would encourage the continual use of drug administration) IS backed with science. Unnecessary drug administration is not good for any animal.

[matilda1]

correct.

ECC is Emergency and Critical care.

[stormie]

Yeah - it's the balance between risk of infection from outside source and risk of detrimental health affect by the certainty of regular drug administration. As an aside, I was informed that heart worm medication is based on Cockroach Bate. Obviously a watered down and altered version, if that is at all correct. But still. It would be a necessary evil for those areas with climates that most suit heartworm larvae development. But it is something I'd rather avoid if I could and as I mentioned, all my readings have shown it to be temperature dependant.

Actually the cockroach baits use the same chemicals as flea controls, not heartworm control. Eg Fipronil (Frontline) and Imidacloprid (Advantage and Advantix).

Just because a substance is poisonous to one species, it doesn't necessarily mean that its toxic to another, take paracetamol for example.

I'm all for minimal use of substance and as far as we know here, the cooler areas like was mentioned, didn't have heartworm 20 years ago. But we need to take other things into considerations, like mutations - perhaps there has been some evolution in the heartworm which is seeing them survive these temperatures. Also as was mentioned - artificial heating in homes could make a difference. We know it makes a difference with the flea cycles so its possible it could for heartworm.

But, in saying all this, I've never seen a positive heartworm in Sydney, so it's more unlikely to see it down south, but impossible? Maybe not...

[karly101]

Bumping up a old topic but I was trying to remember the research at the time I read this and it took me this long to remember!..

A oldish article (1998) but my vet quoted this study as to why she thought heartworm prevention was necessary (in ferrets..) and I haven't been able to find much research on it since so keep all my crew up to date..

Canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) detected in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in urban Melbourne

C. A. Marks* and T. E. Bloomfield

Vertebrate Pest Research Department, Victorian Institute of Animal Science, P.O. Box 48, Frankston Victoria 3199 Australia

Received 14 October 1997; accepted 16 February 1998. Available online 6 August 1998.

Abstract

Canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) was detected by antigen ELISA in 8 (6.4%) of 125 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) captured in the Melbourne (Australia) metropolitan area. Circulating microfilariae were also detected by whole blood filtration in six of these foxes. Cursory sampling of mosquitos at two of the sites where positive foxes were captured revealed the existence of two known mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria. The existence of widespread fox populations in Melbourne, together with known mosquito vectors may offer the potential for a sylvatic cycle of canine heartworm within the urban area.

Author Keywords: Dirofilaria immitis; Fox; Vulpes vulpes

if someone has a newer article debating this I'd definitely be interested in reading..

Edited June 10, 2010 by karly101