Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 23,835
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

Very toxic.

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,827
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

I do not give my dogs a heart worm preventative.  They are always indoors and their chances of getting heartworms are very low.

 

Instead, they get a blood test twice a year to make sure they are heartworm clear.

 

Those preventative meds are pure poison

My Vet has had no issue with this and said they have not had a heart worm  case for the past 25 years they have been in business.

 

I guess it depends on the area in which you live.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,203
Registered: ‎11-22-2013

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

@Nataliesgramma My new baby turned 20 weeks Oct.16 and our vet put him on Heartgard Plus.  It is a beef flavored chewable you administer once a month.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,837
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.


@mousiegirl wrote:

@Nataliesgramma wrote:

To all my pet parents that have small dogs...10lbs or under....

 

What do you use for your furbabys for heartworm prevention.

 

I don't want anything with flea and tick killers included.....

 

TIA


 

 

@Nataliesgramma   I was using Hartgard, but since they are mostly inside, and the vet insists on yearly heartworm tests, I stopped.  It depends on your pet's lifestyle and what you feel comfortable with.  


 

 

@mousiegirl   You might want to reconsider your decision to not use heartworm preventative.  If you've ever known a dog who had heartworms, the disease and treatment are horrible.  Any dog can get heartworms.  They only have to be bitten by one mosquito.  It's an unbelievably awful disease.  The cure is extremely expensive, too.


The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau





Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,862
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.


@NickNack wrote:

@mousiegirl wrote:

@Nataliesgramma wrote:

To all my pet parents that have small dogs...10lbs or under....

 

What do you use for your furbabys for heartworm prevention.

 

I don't want anything with flea and tick killers included.....

 

TIA


 

 

@Nataliesgramma   I was using Hartgard, but since they are mostly inside, and the vet insists on yearly heartworm tests, I stopped.  It depends on your pet's lifestyle and what you feel comfortable with.  


 

 

@mousiegirl   You might want to reconsider your decision to not use heartworm preventative.  If you've ever known a dog who had heartworms, the disease and treatment are horrible.  Any dog can get heartworms.  They only have to be bitten by one mosquito.  It's an unbelievably awful disease.  The cure is extremely expensive, too.


 

 

@NickNack   Yes, I am well informed, and as i said,  lifestyle is key, for me.  After over twenty years in rescue, and many pets of my own, probably isn't much I don't know unless there is something new.  I remember the days when there wasn't any preventative, and none of my dogs ever got it, and they were outside/in.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,655
Registered: ‎03-28-2015

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

[ Edited ]

@Carmie wrote:

I do not give my dogs a heart worm preventative.  They are always indoors and their chances of getting heartworms are very low.

 

Instead, they get a blood test twice a year to make sure they are heartworm clear.

 

Those preventative meds are pure poison

My Vet has had no issue with this and said they have not had a heart worm  case for the past 25 years they have been in business.

 

I guess it depends on the area in which you live.


That's how I feel espeially after wtaching my Maltese/Shih Tzu laying listless on the floor ...foaming at the mouth about 20 min after eating a dose.....but The Vets push Heartworm preventative.

 

I want to do right for my new dog, but if I see this one with a bad reaction....I'll just take my chances without preventative.

 

I know that they can STILL GET HEARTWORMS too, even after taking it. I am not doing the flea and tick stuff...in 45 years I never had a flea or tick problem and mine are pretty much indoor dogs.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,655
Registered: ‎03-28-2015

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

The dose for this stuff is for dogs up to 25 lbs.....

 

I have a 6 lb Maltese puppy...

 

That is alot of difference in weight.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,862
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.


@Nataliesgramma wrote:

@Carmie wrote:

I do not give my dogs a heart worm preventative.  They are always indoors and their chances of getting heartworms are very low.

 

Instead, they get a blood test twice a year to make sure they are heartworm clear.

 

Those preventative meds are pure poison

My Vet has had no issue with this and said they have not had a heart worm  case for the past 25 years they have been in business.

 

I guess it depends on the area in which you live.


That's how I feel espeially after wtaching my Maltese/Shih Tzu laying listless on the floor ...foaming at the mouth about 20 min after eating a dose.....but The Vets push Heartworm preventative.

 

I want to do right for my new dog, but if I see this one with a bad reaction....I'll just take my chances without preventative.

 

I know that they can STILL GET HEARTWORMS too, even after taking it. I am not doing the flea and tick stuff...in 45 years I never had a flea or tick problem and mine are pretty much indoor dogs.


 

 

@Nataliesgramma   I am so sorry about your poor little dog, heartbreaking.

 

My dogs are older now, and I don't want to stress their systems.  When I protested the yearly heartworm test because my dogs were on Heartgard, I was told that some people don't use it due to the yearly test.  It is all poison, basically.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,916
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

@Nataliesgramma  I have used Interceptor and Interceptor Plus as well for my ~20+# dogs, even my very elderly dogs do very well on it, and given that two are rescues that may have lived or visited east of the Rockies, I like that the active ingredient in those pills (milbemycin oxime)  also treats hookworms as well as heartworms.   The ivermectin-based heartworm preventatives don't work against intestinal parasites, so while they work well for heartworm, I like milbemycin oxime better.  I believe it has a very wide margin of safety as well.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 72,831
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Heartworm preventative recommendations for small dogs.

@mousiegirl   Heartguard contains Ivermectin, the stuff stupid people were taking to cure covid and thus poisioning themselves.  Certain breeds are very sensitive to it and it's recommended they not use it.  That's why a vet should do the recommendation. 

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment