Heartworms are parasitic worms that are carried by mosquitoes. When your dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, he can become infected with heartworms. Fortunately, there are medicines that can keep your dog from being infected. However, there are some common myths and misconceptions about canine heartworm preventive medicines.
Heartworm medicine for dogs is an important part of a preventive medicine program.
Myth #1: Heartworm Medicines Are Not Safe for Your Dog
In fact, currently available heartworm preventive medicines are very safe. When side effects do occur, they are generally mild and often resolve on their own.
Myth #2: Certain Breeds of Dogs Cannot Take Heartworm Preventive Medicines
Many heartworm preventive medicines contain ivermectin or products within the ivermectin family. While it is true that the collie breeds can carry a genetic mutation that makes them sensitive to the side effects of ivermectin, the dosage of ivermectin in heartworm medicines is small enough that there is very little risk for most dogs. If you are concerned about the risk, there are other heartworm preventive medications that can be used instead of ivermectin. In addition, there is a test that can be performed to ascertain whether your dog is at risk.
Myth #3: Canine Heartworm Medicines Do Not Need To Be Given Year Round
The current recommendation is to keep your dog on heartworm preventive medicine year round. There are several reasons for this. Most heartworm preventive medicines also prevent various intestinal parasites which are present year round and which can infect people as well. In addition, heartworm medicines administered year round provide year round protection against heartworms if unexpected weather changes occur.
Myth #4: It Is Safe to Give Monthly Heartworm Preventive Medicines Every Six Weeks Rather Than Every Month
This is not a sound practice. All of the monthly heartworm preventive medicines are guaranteed to prevent heartworms if they are given monthly according to label directions. However, lengthening the dosage interval to six weeks rather than one month may allow a lapse in heartworm protection for your dog. It will also nulllify the guarantee offered by the manufacturer of the heartworm medicine because the medicine was not used as directed.
Myth #5: Canine Heartworm Disease Can Be Treated Easily – There Is No Reason to Give Preventive Medicines
Canine heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease. If your dog becomes infected with heartworms, a great deal of damage can be done to his heart before the infection is detected. This damage may not be reversible.
In addition, heartworm treatment is painful for your dog and carries the risk of serious complications. It is also quite expensive for you. Some dogs do not survive treatment for heartworm disease.
On the other hand, prevention of heartworms is easy, safe and not nearly as expensive as treatment.
Myth #6: Treatment for Heartworm Disease Is the Same as Prevention
In fact, although monthly heartworm preventive medicines are a part of the treatment for heartworm disease, they are only a part of the recommended treatment. The recommended treatment for heartworm disease involves using a medication known as Immiticide®. Immiticide® kills the adult heartworms that live in the canine heart.
In situations where only monthly heartworm preventive medicines are used to treat heartworm disease, it takes a period of many months for the adult heartworms to die. During these months, the worms remain in the heart and vessels and continue to cause damage. This method is used in cases where finances are limited or in cases where Immiticide® therapy cannot be administered but it is not optimal and it not recommended by the American Heartworm Society.
Hopefully, by now, you are convinced that heartworm preventive medicine is a critical part of your dog’s preventive health care program and that your chosen canine heartworm medicine should be given following the directions on the product label.
Photo Courtesy of S. Diddy/Flickr.com
