[img]http://www.cha.state.md.us/edcp/images/mosquito.gif[/img]

Well, it is that time of year again.

What do you all use to help your Puggies fight-off the MN State Bird (aka mosquito) and/or to help prevent Heartworm disease?

Please share name of product(s) you use, why use choose it, where you buy it, and how much it costs?

Thanks,
~Pamela~

I use Ivermectin for heartworm. Some say it works on fleas, too, but I'm not so sure about that. We don't have many mosquitos here so no worries about fending off those pesky critters. If you use Ivermectin you cannot use Revolution or any other Ivermectin based product. Selemectin is one of the big drug names I have seen being used and is virtually the same as the Ivermectin.

Just curious, Amber ...

If you have no mosquitoes, why the need to use a Heartworm preventive?

Thanks,
~Pamela~

We use Heartguard. The boxers are three years old now and Lester my bloodhound is 4 , Crispen my Yorkie is now 12, have always used Heartguard.

Faye

Hi, Pamela,

See: http://pug.meetup.com... , Section 8.

In gathering data from local area vets, the stats show that the incidence of heartworm positives in my area are actually rapidly decreasing yearly. Many local vets are now testing every 2 years rather than every year for those dogs that are on a daily or monthly commercial heartworm preventative. Naturally, as the incidence of heartworm positive cases decrease, the less chance there is of new infestations. Thus, the vets are getting many more "negative" test results. That's good news ~ and news that I'll take advantage of for my fur-kids. So, rather than choosing to give my fur-kids a monthly dose of toxic insecticide that can negatively affect their health, I'm working closely with my holistic vet and have opted to go the Natural Heartworm Prevention route. As a precaution, I have their blood tested every 6 months (HLEA-Test) for Heartworm, Lyme, Ehrlichia equi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilium.

I encourage everyone to take a close look at the heartworm incidence data for your particular geographic location and, along with your vet's input regarding the current health status of your fur-kid(s), make an educated decision regarding the use of either a chemical or natural heartworm prevention program.

Linda thank you! Wow there is a ton of information here. I've read through most of it shaking my head and saying "Yes, that makes sense, I've read some similar articles" I've not seen anything this inclusive before though. I can't wait to read through the rest of the links. I just knew you'd find a natural preventation for heartworm. I recall us all speaking a lot about this last year.

One question though, and maybe it is in this article and I haven't read it thouroughly enough yet, if it seems to take well over 6 months for the heartworms to make it to the heart why would you test for it twice a year? What am I missing?

Thanks again Linda for all your help!! I've been sitting here this last week dreading the thought of giving my babies Interceptor.

thanks linda im going to go your route too...thanks a bunch!

also those who use garlic....do you chop up fresh or used the canned already chopped garlic. Also how much do you give and is it everyday?

what ever anyone decides to do...whether taking the meds or going the natural way...if you are in an area where mosquitos are plentiful, please, please take it seriously as you do not want your puggie to get heartworm. it's very stressful for your puggie and stressful for you to watch them go thru it. take it from someone who's been there, done that. mikey came to me with heartworm.

Linda thank you! Wow there is a ton of information here. I've read through most of it shaking my head and saying "Yes, that makes sense, I've read some similar articles" I've not seen anything this inclusive before though. I can't wait to read through the rest of the links. I just knew you'd find a natural preventation for heartworm. I recall us all speaking a lot about this last year.

One question though, and maybe it is in this article and I haven't read it thouroughly enough yet, if it seems to take well over 6 months for the heartworms to make it to the heart why would you test for it twice a year? What am I missing?

Thanks again Linda for all your help!! I've been sitting here this last week dreading the thought of giving my babies Interceptor.

Valerie,

If a mosquito with L3 larva bites a dog and, because of specific conditions once inside the dog, the L3 larva develops into L4 larva and then develops in the skin for the next three or four months where it develops into the L5 stage, it is at the L5 stage that the young adult then migrates to the heart and pulmonary arteries. Once there it will mate approximately 5 to 7 months after entering the dogs body (not 5 to 7 months after entering the heart and pulmonary arteries). That is of course assuming that the dog has been infested with both male and female larva. This mating produces the Microfilariae. Testing at 6 month intervals will not only screen for Microfilariae but for any developing heartworms. It is at this 6 month stage that treatments are easier and safer, particularly for little dogs, as any worms that may have developed are relatively small at this stage. The size of the dog doesn't determine the size of the heartworm. The heartworm will grow to a substantial size no matter what the size of the dog. The longer the heartworms grow the bigger they get and the more difficult and potentially dangerous the treatment becomes. So that is why I test every 6 months. I did this even when using Interceptor.

Shannon, small dogs can have 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of garlic a day; a puppy - 1/8 tsp. to a pinch. I use fresh, organic garlic.

Carol, your comments are well stated and should be heeded. It is imperative that dedicated preventative measures are taken to prevent heartworm disease; the most important prevention comes from a good diet and, therefore, a strong immune system. Again, making an educated decision regarding the use of either a chemical or natural heartworm prevention program is vital.

(These suggestions are for informational purposes only and are not medical advice.)