Heartworm Preventative?

[Alyssa]

I thought I’d start a new topic to discuss this. For those of you with pups that have survived this awful disease, particularly those in high-risk areas for heartworms, what are you using as a preventative? The closer we get to summer here to worse the mosquitoes are getting. I have a few essential oil sprays I’ve been using, but I still worry, because they are SO bad – you can see 5-8 hovering around her at times, they don’t seem to land, but I am sure they will at this rate.

I am particularly scared about starting a preventative back up right now, as she is still in recovery, still on pretty high doses of her meds. Do you want until they’re off the meds/on maintenance levels, or do you start even while they’re on a heavy regimen?

I have not found a flew or tick on her since I started the oil sprays, but the mosquitoes seem like they’re going to be another story.
If anyone is interested in what I am using for the ticks, it’s been these products:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GSGXAE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051H7VQ8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZJE1NY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(essential pure rose oil, curealia balm & spray. I put the rose drops on her collar, the balm I rub into her fur about once a week and the spray I do when we go outside in the evening in hopes that the extremely fresh application will deter the mosquitoes)

Thoughts?

[Pam]

My dog has IMHA in remission. She is currently taking two immune suppressants so she’s still in active treatment.

Our family vet, an Internal Medicine Specialist vet and a Critical Care Specialist vet have all said it’s safe to give Heartgard Plus as heartworm prevention.

None of these vets feel giving Heartgard Plus will interfere with my dogs IMHA meds. All three vets feel a case of heartworm at this point in her life might be life threatening. All three vets say YES to giving Heartgard Plus to an IMHA dog in treatment.

[Patrice]

Alyssa,
On Second Chance we like to follow Dr. Dodds’ advice on many things veterinary. Her advice for heartworm is well written and based on many years of working with dogs that have or had AIHA IMHA and non-regenerative anemia.

You can read her column on this here in our Hemopet Resources:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources/

Click on Dodds Heartworm Recommendation

This will open a new page where you can read this article!
my best
patrice

[admin]

Thanks so much Patrice. As we all know, with our AIHA pups – dealing with heart worms at this stage of the game, is deadly. I really appreciate your input on this Patrice! Sadie is on TriHeart Plus, but I have my questions about this AND Sadie has relapsed (twice!). So, I particularly appreciate you telling us about this! Thanks so much. :)

Linda and Sadie