I know I'm preaching to the choir with this, but maybe someone is clueless like I was. If you haven't had your pet tested for heartworms lately, please do it asap. Heartworms are passed from pet to pet by mosquitoes with the disease totally preventable. As you all know, Aslan tested positive. What hurts me so much is that he didn't have to be. His former owner had him tested and he was clean. She was given Heartgard, but would forget to give it to him! Now he's in the hospital enduring very painful shots, deep in the muscle at the base of his spine. He won't be allowed to run and play for a month. It's costing us about $500. I don't care about the money, but in today's economy, that's money I could use elsewhere. Aslan's pain is the most upsetting. I know I took a risk when I adopted him before he was tested, but I don't regret it. My risk is not the point here. The risk of a pet getting sick when it's preventable is my point.

So take a lesson from what has happened to him. If you're behind on testing, or tend to forget the medication, please do whatever it takes to make sure your pet stays healthy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SandraS,

How many more days does he have to have shots? Are you able to visit with him while he's at the clinic? I'm so sorry Asian is going through all of this but happy to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
How often should pets be tested if they are Heartworm meds 12 months a year? I've never missed giving them a pill. One vet said to still test annually. The second vet said every other year. And the third vet said it is not necessary but it wouldn't hurt to still have them tested.

I've read that the first test should be done as a puppy, then 6 mths later. After they are clean twice and on preventative, it's once a year. I think. The test is nothing, so I'm going to have it done at least once a year from now on, even with meds. I think Aslan has to be tested every few months once the treatment is over, just to be sure all the worms are dead and gone. He got his 2nd shot this morning. We can't visit because they don't want him to get excited. We take him home tomorrow. They have to watch him closely for 24 hrs after each shot for any complications. I just feel so bad for him. His owner had the meds and didn't give them to him. I wonder how she would like to take the shots.

Sandra, I can imagine how you feel right now, something that could've just been prevented by giving him a dose one day out of the month and she couldn't even manage that. Because of her negligence, Aslan is now enduring something that could've been prevented...you truly did rescue this beautiful creature and now he has you and DH to look after him and I know he'll never be neglected ever again.
Honey gets tested once a yr. and I put the little heart sticker on the calendar so I know when she is supposed to get it every single month and the calendar is in a spot you can't help but notice, right by the kitchen entrance.

How often you should test for HWD depends on where you live, and whether you miss doses. Yearly to every other year is plenty as long as you are only rarely missing a dose. The timing of a test to the time of missed meds is important, too, but your vet can work that out for you.

"SandraS," I've already posted about Aslan and, I thank you for posting back how this could happen. I think you did a great service for those considering private adoptions and, had I been you, I would not have changed a thing.

I know Aslan will be fine...

"muscat," Glad to see your post. How are you doing with the loss of Jack? I know it takes so much time to even process the loss and there is no time schedule for grief so I, along with many others, appreciate that you have taken time to post during this difficult time.

Muscat, In your opinion, does it matter what time of year they get the test done if we never miss a dose? Since we live in two different locations, we have two different vets.
We live in Canada from April to November. Normally, dogs here only take Setinel 6 months a year. We live in Florida from December to the end of March. Therefore, we keep them on Sentinel 12 months a year. Given our schedule, does it matter what month they have their heartworm test done? Our vet in Canada does their annual physicals and their vaccinations in the Fall as well as provides us with a their health certificates so we can get them across the border. Should she be doing the heartworm test in the Fall? Or should we have our vet in Florida do the heartworm test? As mentioned, in all the years we've had our dogs we have never missed a dose.

If your pet spends lots of time outdoors, it is especially important to check for heartworms. My dog gets tested yearly and receives Interceptor every month.

The details of heart worm testing and preventing depend on where you are. When I was in the swamps of eastern North Carolina my vet would test a puppy the first time he saw it, and if it wasn't winter he would start the prevention pills that in that visit. So Geordi's first pill was at age 7 weeks.

I don't think that vet did the re-test if his records showed you never missed a dose. In my neigborhood any dog that missed a dose of prevention in June, July, or August would get heart worms. Mine never missed a dose the whole time I lived there.

There have been many vets now seeing dogs come up positive regardless of being on preventative. Some vets believe Katrina may have played a role in placing these positive dogs all over the country. Others think heartworm prevention may not be 100% protective in all dogs even if owners have been compliant. So for peace of mind, why not test every year so that if positive you don't have damage done to the heart and lungs over several years. Out of convenience most will do so when they get their annual checkup. Cats should be on it too.

The test used in most hospitals is an antigen test for adult worms. It takes 6 months to get from the mosquito bite that causes infection to a positive test, because in those 6 months there are no adult worms, just various stages of larvae maturing into worms. So if you miss doses in March and April, you should test in October, not May. If you never miss doses, and are just testing to be careful, I guess I'd do the test 6 months after the worst season. I know that in California, we dont really have a mosquito season, so things are about the same year round. I dont know the details of Canada or Florida.

It is true that even dogs on preventative are coming up infected. I'm treating one now, and it has been a long and stressful road for my poor client.

"Idaho resident", thanks for asking. I still miss that guy every day, probably every hour. I can accept that I had to let him go, but it is really weird and hard to accept that he is a memory now.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: muscat,

The idea that we could face HW's again just freaks me out. Is it mostly dogs that are repeat infections or first time infections while on preventive?
Muscat, I know exactly what you mean about missing your guy. Although we've adopted Aslan and are moving on to a new life with him, Soko is even more in our thoughts now. Not in a positive or negative comparing, just remembering things she did. We're able to talk about her freely now.
I have the following cross stitched and hanging in my room in memory of the son I lost 15 years ago. It applies:
"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure".
thanks so much for offering your expertise with us.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SandraS,

I love that quote. A good friend of mine sent it to me shortly after I lost him, and it says so much with so few words.

There is no reason to be more afraid of HWD a second time around....there are a few weird cases out there, but for the most part, the preventatives are very good, and there is nothing that would make a dog more succeptible after having it once. Just get through this, keep him on preventative, and test yearly or so. Sending good thoughts your way!!!

In my County your dog has to have a TAG, and you cant get your annual tag unless you get a rabies shot and tested for hw. My vet told me I can stop Frontline and Advantage from Nov -Feb. but I still give it to him.

Thanks for sharing. I'm sure she will be fine

All my boys get treatment every month, and get tested once a year at their annual check ups. Now, we are very hot and humid here, and rarely get a good freeze, so skeeters thrive. Better safe than sorry!