Heartworm Pills?

Double Shot Banks · Post by **Double Shot Banks** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:16 am

Do you give heartworm meds in the winter? i was told you dont need to because there are no mosquitos. although i just wanted to know what everyone else is doing,
Thanks
Isaac and Banks

RoostersMom · Post by **RoostersMom** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:13 am

Isaac,

I don't give HW preventative in December, January, or February. I do start back up in March. My vet wants me to stay on it year round but I don't like giving unnecessary medications. If I travel with the dogs outside of the midwest during those months, I will treat them.

Also, if you've been reading the posts on Ivomec - that's what I give monthly - the swine and cattle type that I buy from Orschelns.

Elsa

Double Shot Banks wrote:Do you give heartworm meds in the winter? i was told you dont need to because there are no mosquitos. although i just wanted to know what everyone else is doing,
Thanks
Isaac and Banks

Post by **Sharon** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 12:10 pm

Depends where you live . Once the ground is frozen hard there are no fleas around . So where I live Heartworm preventative is only used from April - Oct. depending on the onset of winter.

Sometimes there is more to the story though:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_m ... ing_winter

Post by **kninebirddog** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:24 pm

It is best to continue year round...Thing about Heartworm regime ..it does not give your dog 30 days of protection...What it does it kills what is in the system for about the next 24-72 hours depending on the doseage ...AFter 72 hours if an infected mosquito bites your dog that has the next 27 days to mature which still is in the stage where the ivermectin or what ever can still kill the heartworm...So if you stop giving the pills and lets say 5 days aftre that last dose some mosquito got to your dog that would have 4 months to mature which is well beyond where the heartworm preventative can be effective to killing the worms.

Hope that makes sense ....You can look this up via http://www.heartwormsociety.org/

campgsp · Post by **campgsp** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:16 pm

ya I'll just stick with the year round once a month. Better to be in a habit and save my dogs life. Then take shortcuts.

birddogger · Post by **birddogger** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:33 pm

I also give it all year.

Charlie

Back · Post by **Back** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:42 pm

birddogger wrote:I also give it all year.

Charlie

+1

Double Shot Banks · Post by **Double Shot Banks** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:28 pm

I will definitely continue all year, i guess i didn't think it through,
Thanks everyone!
Isaac and Banks

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