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Post by deboosh on Jun 4, 2014 9:59:22 GMT -5
I took Bonnie to the vet for her heartworm meds, and was told that she had to have a blood test before her Revolution would be prescribed. She was on Revolution last year, and seeing as we don't have mosquitoes during the off season, why is it necessary to test for heartworm?I
I was told that unless Bonnie's on Revolution year round, a blood test is mandatory. To me, this doesn't make sense; no mosquitoes = no heartworm, so why do the test? Or is it not as simple as that? Will appreciate your thoughts on this.
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aeiou
Grey Puppy
Posts: 82
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Post by aeiou on Jun 4, 2014 12:07:27 GMT -5
Every vet has a different protocol... and it's still very common to test annually for heartworm just in case. It's more for those folks who fail to give the heartworm meds every month or decide to cut it out early. Most will follow a "better safe than sorry" protocol. Talk to your vet about it. Most vets are very reasonable when they hear the concerns of their "patients".
My regular vet will do heartworm tests every two years now as long as the owner has given the full treatment of heartworm meds on time in the previous year, but they only started doing that in the past two years. The one thing that I like about doing heartworm testing is they offer to bundle it with a wellness screening at a discounted rate. We've found multiple issues over the years doing this prophylatic check up and caught some medical conditions early enough to treat and before it became a huge crisis.
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keyt
Grey Puppy
Georgia loved her weekend in the snow in the Soo - and meeting her greyhound cousins!
Posts: 34
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Post by keyt on Jun 4, 2014 13:58:25 GMT -5
I was told, and have read that the larva can develop over several months - and thats why it's important to have the blood test. and that it's important not to let more than a month go by between doses.
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Post by deboosh on Jun 5, 2014 11:14:40 GMT -5
When we adopted Bonnie, it was in the dead of winter. But coming from Florida, we had the testing done, in addition to others, for the nasty things that dogs are susceptible to in warmer climes. She was given a clean bill of health, (except for her pudding poops, but that's another story) lol.
When I questioned the receptionist about the heartworm test, her reply was "it's the way Dr. So-and-so does things", which just doesn't cut it. I should have asked the vet directly. Now it's niggling at me; so I'm now wondering if it was just a cash grab, or was there a legitimate risk to justify testing. Since I'm a "by the book" type, Bonnie got her Revolution dose on the 15th of every month from May through October. It would then make sense that Bonnie was fully protected from the previous season, and therefore isn't at risk for heartworm presently. With this in mind, I don't think a blood test should be mandatory; and I wish it were done on a case by case basis.
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Post by newtothis1 on Jun 6, 2014 14:55:54 GMT -5
My old vet only did the test once and then if they were on the meds, he never did it again. I had my last dog 18yyrs and he only ever had one test. Another thing to research is just how many cases of heartworm are actually diagnosed in Ontario in a season. From what I know its very low, so you need to ask the question do they even need heartworm medication. I have Scully on it but I think twice every time I get it out to put on him. I know when the vet called this year and told them he does not get the test, they said I could come in and pick up the meds without the test.
It's a tough one. Good luck
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Redhead
Grey Lover
Teague (Natural Red Head)
Posts: 823
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Post by Redhead on Jun 6, 2014 17:05:21 GMT -5
It is very unlikely that your dog is carrying heartworm, but a lot of vets have to err on the side of caution to avoid even the most minute risk of a problem (e.g. lawsuit). There was a special on CBC last year about vet costs, and this was one of the things brought up. The actual likelihood of a dog having heartworm when on treatment the season before was extremely low, making the test a waste of money in a lot of people's eyes. I don't even give heartworm where I live, both of the vets that I have been to have said that it is incredibly rare in this area. There is always the option of ordering medication from either Australia or the U.S. This way you can have it without having to pay for the vet fee and testing. Quite a few greyhound people use this sight, so I am assuming it is reliable. You do not need a prescription to order most of the meds. Again, I haven't used this site, and I know some people do not like mail order meds, but so many grey people in Ontario have used this with no problems. www.pets-megastore.com.au/
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Post by deboosh on Jun 7, 2014 18:13:44 GMT -5
My old vet only did the test once and then if they were on the meds, he never did it again. I had my last dog 18yyrs and he only ever had one test. Another thing to research is just how many cases of heartworm are actually diagnosed in Ontario in a season. From what I know its very low, so you need to ask the question do they even need heartworm medication. I have Scully on it but I think twice every time I get it out to put on him. I know when the vet called this year and told them he does not get the test, they said I could come in and pick up the meds without the test. It's a tough one. Good luck It was our discussion on this a few weeks ago that prompted me to ask what others think. I'm leaning towards the cash grab side of it, and if that's the case, then I will be looking for another vet. But it's probably time anyway, since this is the same vet that recommended Bonnie undergo anaesthesia for her nail clip.
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Post by deboosh on Jun 7, 2014 18:25:58 GMT -5
It is very unlikely that your dog is carrying heartworm, but a lot of vets have to err on the side of caution to avoid even the most minute risk of a problem (e.g. lawsuit). There was a special on CBC last year about vet costs, and this was one of the things brought up. The actual likelihood of a dog having heartworm when on treatment the season before was extremely low, making the test a waste of money in a lot of people's eyes. I don't even give heartworm where I live, both of the vets that I have been to have said that it is incredibly rare in this area. There is always the option of ordering medication from either Australia or the U.S. This way you can have it without having to pay for the vet fee and testing. Quite a few greyhound people use this sight, so I am assuming it is reliable. You do not need a prescription to order most of the meds. Again, I haven't used this site, and I know some people do not like mail order meds, but so many grey people in Ontario have used this with no problems. www.pets-megastore.com.au/This is really great to know Redhead, thank you for this resource! I wish I had known about it when my elderly kitty was alive. The meds for her chronic conditions were $200/mo.
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OwnedBySummer
Hound Nut
"Summer" (aka Coach Standifer)
Posts: 1,392
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Post by OwnedBySummer on Jun 8, 2014 18:36:33 GMT -5
I don't think it's necessary to test annually. And I've never had a vet require it before they dispense the Revolution or whatever. As far as I'm aware, the only thing that NOT testing will do... is that the company (Bayer, Merial or whomever) will not guarantee that your dog will be heartworm-free and, should heartworm crop up, they will not pay for the treatment. Which is understandable as they have no way of knowing where your dog was over the winter.
And I used that Pets Megastore website this year for Summer's Heartgard -- made with Australian beef, LOL. Her Advantix II I picked up from Petco in the US. No prescription required for either. Yay!
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aeiou
Grey Puppy
Posts: 82
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Post by aeiou on Jun 9, 2014 9:30:30 GMT -5
I think Lisa has hit the nail on the head. It's a liability issue.
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Post by deboosh on Jun 9, 2014 14:50:36 GMT -5
And I totally understand the liability piece of it, Lisa & aeiou. However, I think it's respectful and goes without saying, that professionals be nothing less than honest about why they need to perform a test, rather than shooing clients away with a silly comment such as I got, that "it's just the way Dr. so-and-so does things". How insulting.
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OwnedBySummer
Hound Nut
"Summer" (aka Coach Standifer)
Posts: 1,392
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Post by OwnedBySummer on Jun 9, 2014 21:14:57 GMT -5
Yeah, "it's just the way Dr. so-and-so does things" does NOT cut it with me.
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