CAL Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I just got off the phoen to the vet and he has recommended an annual heartworm preventative. Does anyone have any experience with this, and should I then avoid all-wormers such as sentinel that have heartworm prevention in them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 The jury is still out on these I believe. All my dogs have the annual jab. I believe that spacing it some distance apart from any other vaccination will assist with lowering impact on a dog's immune system. I haven't had any adverse reactions but I have heard of some dogs having localised swelling. I certainly wouldn't be using any other product that contains heartworm preventative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FHRP Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 If you were intending on giving worming regularly with a heartworm prevention in it, I certianly wouldn't give the annual injection also. My dogs used to get the injection. My young boy has a lump where he was given it 2 years ago and I was advised for him not to get it again. I put all the boys back on monthly tablets. Like poodlefan said, the jury is out. I've heard good things and bad things about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I would avoid the yearly heartworm shot if I was you. Many a bad expeiernce out there with it and it just doesn't sit right that a large dose of chemicals like that is good for a dog. Mind you some poeple say the same about monthly rather than daily heartworm. Proheart SR-12 is the name of the injection given. Article about Proheart 6 being recalled Document about Heartworm from FDA Thread on OZPets about Injectable Heartworming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I decided against the annual heartworm for my dogs...partially because it costs quite a bit more for my dogs then it would with the monthly tablets, the other reason being is that i'm not yet sure that it would last the year as it's supposed to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAX Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I gave it to my dogs just before all the bad press about (as ML has posted) it came out. I was very worried that they would get some weird illness and they were fine but i dont think i would risk it again. Maybe later when there is more research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 would never ever use it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belnel Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Have had both my girls done with the shot. Had heard of problems but when I asked the vet these related to the American injection NOT the Australian one- two completely different products and yes there were probs with it. That being said, problems can arise with any product depending on the dog. I know of a poodle who had bad bleeding after the tabs!! Belnel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westielover Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I use the monthly heartguard tablets for my boys. I don't like the idea of having them injected with too many chemicals! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Friend had her 2 chihuahua's done bad reaction on both says she will never have it agian lumps still there months later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wednesday Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Tigger was on it before I got her, Abby got it about 10 months ago - no problems with either of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LittlePixie Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Personally.... the concept of a chemical being injected into my dog that would stay there for TWELVE MONTHS really concerns me... Yes you hear the same about monthly vs daily heartworm prevention... but I think from one month to twelve months is still a very big jump!! And no - if they have the shot, don't give them anything else for heartworm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyandsandy Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I asked about the injection on the American site that I am a member of to find out more. Most of them weren't for it as it had caused a lot of adverse reactions in dogs, including apparently some deaths (though I don't have any factual information to say that the deaths were found to be definitely due to the injection). Not one member said that they would put their dogs on the injection. But like I have read in one of the replies the Aussie version is meant to be different to the American one. Before the dog is put on the injection they have to be tested and cleared for Heartworm first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadia Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 As far as I am aware the drug is the same in both USA and Australia. It is not an option that is promoted by my Vet for HW prevention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Have always done it, big dogs and little ones. Plus use Advantage DUO for fleas. No problems here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Admittedly CAL, I've used the shot on 3 dogs (my vet at the time was using as soon as it came out). 1st dog - Used once - no immediate problems. Haven't known dog since. 2nd dog - Has been used for 3 years now (not my dog anymore though), no problems. 3rd dog - Used once, no problems. When year was up went back to monthly because of distrust of chemical. So I never actually experienced any problems, but I heard enough to make me not want to wait for them to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazz Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 I use it and haven't had any problems - and yes your dog has to be tested for heartworm prior to having the injection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 I've never had a dog tested before they got the injection. They were all on heartworm prevention prior to getting the injection and it was simply given on the daywhen the next monthly tab was due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAL Posted April 1, 2005 Author Share Posted April 1, 2005 Thanks for the URL's ML. I discussed it with the vet when I went for 'chipping last night and decided against it until there is more empirical evidence available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted April 1, 2005 Share Posted April 1, 2005 Also depending on the size of your dog it's cheaper to go with a monthly heartwormer, this might sound a little strange but my old vet tried pushing me to get the injection for my older dog. I asked him how much for a 40kg dog...and i'm sure the amount would differ with different vets... but the price was well over double what i spend per year on monthly heartworm, with a consult on top of that price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now