Heartworms in Dogs

Archive for December, 2008

Heartgard and its active agent, Ivermectin, is possibly one of the most important things that any pet owner would be informed of. Those two words and things can potentially save your pet from a rather gruesome pest, the Heartworm. Any loving owner of a proud puppy or a catty kitty should be aware of the threat that the mosquito distributed infection poses and should be ready to deal with it before it even starts. Here are the basics of this important prophylactic and drug.

Ivermectin, the active agent, is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic drug, which means it attacks a wide range of infections. Developed in the 1980’s, this wonder agent fights hard against most intestinal worms, with the notable exception of the tapeworm. This is of course, a blessing for anyone who wants to see spot well into the dog’s later years. While ineffective against fleas and such insects, this works wonders against immature or larval heartworms, which makes Heartgard and Ivermectin the preferred method of preventing the little worms from ever taking a foothold inside your pet. Some side effects are of course feared. Higher doses can cause adverse infects, up to but not limited to, death.

Heartgard, made by Merial, uses Ivermectin to provide your animal with a level of protection from the Heartworms. While this prophylactic can treat as well as prevent the worms from occurring in cats, dogs need to be completely clean before any intelligent or knowledgeable vet would prescribe it. The weight of the animal primarily is taken into consideration if prescribed, as the amount needed changes with the weight of the animal. Care should be taken that an owner does not accidentally give too much or leave it in the open for an animal to discover – the effect, as stated above, could quickly become disastrous. Heartgard also comes in a Plus version, where pyrantel pamoate is added and thus, the drug can also control the onset of roundworms and hookworms. Various organizations have approved its use, as even with Ivermectin the drug does not cause adverse effects, even in Collies. The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have both approved its use for most household pets.

These are only the basics of the wonderful drug that could save your pet a lot of pain and you from a lot of Heartache. For more information, you could consult your vet while you’re giving Rover or Paws in for their next checkup.

Heartworm disease is a common yet fatal problem for dogs. One heartworm does not kill a dog, but once they have reproduced, the life of the dog is in danger because they increase in to hundreds of worms nesting in the dog’s heart. With cats however it is a quite different story. We will be discussing here the effects and causes of the heartworm disease in cats and how to prevent the disease by using heartgard chewables for cats.

A heartworm lives inside the heart or the veins and arteries of the heart. Once they reproduce, the offspring start out as larvae and it is necessary for their development to go through another host which is the mosquito. The mosquito that bites an infected animal for example receives the larvae that are swimming in the bloodstream of the animal and releases it onto another bitten animal. That is why cats living in mild and mosquito prone areas should be treated monthly with heartgard chewables for cats.

The heartgard disease is easily diagnosed in a dog, but it is much harder to your veterinarian to determine whether your cat contracted heartworm disease or not. The symptoms vary from cat to cat and are often times vomiting and coughing, but in other cases there are no symptoms and a sudden death of the cat will be the case. Heartgard chewables for cats can prevent the spread of heartworms and kill of the larvae. The good thing about heartgard chewables for cats is that it can be used with cats that are already infected with adult heartworm disease.

Heartgard chewables for cats has to be prescribed by your veterinarian and your veterinarian will give you tips on how long you will have to administer it. The administration should be done once every month on about the same day each month. Heartgard chewables for cats can be administered to cats that are six weeks and older already and heartgard chewables for cats also eliminated present hookworms in the body. There are two different heartgard chewables for cats available that are being used according to your cat’s weight. There is one dosage that is used for cats weighing 5 pounds and below and another dosage for cats weighing 5 to 15 pounds.

Protecting your cat with heartgard chewables for cats will make you feel more comfortable and at ease, because you will know that your cat’s life is not at risk anymore and that you will not lose your precious feline to a sudden death. Heartgard chewables for cats is available in pet shops and veterinarian clinics.

Dogs, cats, most of our favorite pets and even we are susceptible to the dreaded heartworm. This infection, whose name comes from its tendency to live in hearts, can easily be prevented in animals through the prescription of Heartgard tablets. As easy as that sounds, there’s more depth to the threat of the heartworm.

First of all, Heartgard tablets can only prevent the onset of the infection rather than treat it. The heartworm itself is a filarial, a kind of worm that is thread like and small. Mosquitoes are the common method of transmission, which makes them rather common during the rainy season and whenever mosquitoes tend to gather in large numbers. It is a dangerous worm that can kill our beloved pets. It was discovered as early as the 1800s and can be found in most places around the world, making it a worldwide, if somewhat mild, threat.

Common signs of infection include a strange combination of symptoms, including seizures and blindness. One of the most dangerous and stealthy aspects of the heartworm is that for the first six months, despite its danger, dogs will show little to no signs of even being infected in the first place. More active dogs tend to show signs, however, through quick fatigue and coughing. Generally, a blood test is required to truly confirm the prence of the worm.

This is why Heartgard tablets were made. While this medication cannot do anything to treat the worm once it has its hold and if fact can be detrimental if given to an infected animal, it does very good work in terms of preventing it from ever beginning. It uses invermectin as its active ingredient, which is designed to fight infections in general. While invermectin has had a history of causing adverse side-effects, the amount present in Heartgard tablets is negligible. It has been approved for a wide variety of animals, even for the Collie, as the breed tends to react negatively to most medicine. Only veterinarians can offer this medicine and has been approved my controlling agencies in the United States. Usually, they will test the animal before prescribing Heartgard tablets as a method of prevention.

Heartgard tablets can prevent an early pet related tragedy from happening to you and your family. They are usually available where there are veterinarians. A word of warning is to make sure that your pet does not overdose on the medicine, as it can quickly become fatal at that point.

Regardless of the health condition of your dogs whether they are pampered and in healthy condition they are still at risk of contracting the deadly heartworm disease. The disease is carried and transmitted by mosquitoes by sucking the blood of infected animals and transmitting the same parasite to another host mostly dogs.

Every dog is at risk with heartworm disease that is why administering the preventive regimen against heartworm using Heartgard Plus is a must for all pet owners to administer the said medicine to their pet dogs.

Heartgard Plus is well tolerated by dogs especially it comes in chewable tablets in real beef flavor. The seriousness of heartworm disease must be understood by pet owners since it can lead to a fatal death in dogs due to its irreversible damage to multiple organs specifically the heart and the circulatory system resulting to multiple organ failure in dogs.

Heartgard Plus provides a preventive measure against the growth of larva from the bloodstreams in dogs where once reaching the mature stage will invade the heart thus the term heartworm that will result to fatal death in dogs. Heartgard Plus retards the growth of these parasites to prevent it from causing further damage into the dog’s body system that can lead to their death.

Heartgard Plus is given to dogs once a month as a preventive measure against heartworm and is also effective against hookworms and roundworms too. Dogs that are candidates for Heartgard Plus medication are puppies from 6 weeks old onwards. But dogs must be tested with heartworm at the age of 6 months before administering their Heartgard Plus regimen since the medicine is no longer effective once the dog is positive with heartworm already. The heartworm should be first treated before commencing the Heartgard Plus medication as a preventive measure against reoccurrence of heartworm disease in infected but already treated dogs.

Heartgard Plus for dogs is widely accepted and prescribed by veterinarians being an effective preventive medicine against heartworm and other intestinal parasites such as hookworms and roundworms. It is also safe to all sizes and breeds of dogs and even to pregnant bitches. Heartgard Plus is widely accepted by dogs since it comes with a tasty chewable tablet. Because of this most pet owners have no trouble giving their pet dogs Heartgard Plus.

The ideal dosage of administration of Heartgard Plus in dogs will depend on the weight of the dog. It is best to always consult a veterinarian concerning on how to obtain the ideal dosage for your dog to produce the desired effect of Heartgard Plus.

Pet owners get the confidence that their dogs are protected against the deadly heartworm disease through the medicine breakthrough of Heartgard Plus for dogs.

Probably one of the most fatal diseases dogs or even cats may suffer from is heartworm. A heartworm is a parasite that tends to thrive in your pet’s heart or lungs. If left without treatment your pet may die due to failures of these organs. To help counteract such action, your pet may be prescribed with Heartgard Plus.

Heartguard Plus is designed as a chewable medicine with a beef flavor. That way, giving it is easier. At the same time, your pet prefers it more because of its taste.

Outdoor dogs or cats are more prone to having heartworms than the indoor ones. But it does not mean they are excluded from this case. These parasites are transferred by mosquitoes as larva into your pets. Owners of these pets are advised by veterinarians to give Heartgard Plus to prevent such occurrences.

Having heartworms can be very fatal for your pet. A heartworm’s life cycle can take long. If undetected and your pet is not taking Heartgard Plus these worms can grow into adults. Pets that are already infected can be difficult to treat and manage. It might be too late by then. That is why to best manage the disease is to not have it in the first place.

Aside from heartworms, Heartgard Plus also helps eliminate other types of worms like hookworms and roundworms. At one point in their lives pets can have intestinal worms. That is why regular check up and deworming is advisable.

Pet owners must know that Heartgard Plus is not an over the counter drug. That is why it is best to have a pet regular check up. Aside from early detections made, you need your veterinarian to prescribe this type of medication. Important instructions will be given with regards to time, dosage, and what to look for.

Taking Heartgard Plus is the first step to prevention. But you also need to know certain precautions. You might have prevented the occurrence of heartworms but then you fail to follow necessary precaution that comes with taking the medicine.

Most often than not, every family has a dog or a cat as a pet. It does not matter what their preference are. Bottom line is once these pets are adopted they become part of the family. As much as possible, pet owners do not want them to get sick especially with heartworms. Heartgard Plus can help prevent this from happening and is often recommended.

Dogs are prone to all kinds of worms all the time whether it is a hookworm or a tapeworm in the intestine. These worms do not really do much damage to the dog, but there is one single worm that surpasses them all and can even kill your dog if not removed on time. This worm is the heartworm and with this type of worm comes the heartworm disease which can only be prevented and not treated. Today, we will be talking about heartgard plus brown for dogs of larger and heavier built and how heartgard plus brown for dogs can protect your canine from this fatal disease.

The heartgard medication can only be prescribed and bought through and by the veterinarian of your dog. If your dog already has adult heartworms, then they have to be removed in a complicated surgical procedure. The heartworm disease only gets dangerous once the heartworms are adults and can reproduce because larger numbers of worms clogs up the arteries and lung capillaries which cause several different illnesses. Heartgard plus brown for dogs of large size and breed prevents the heartworm larva from becoming an adult or further developing into an advanced stage which is how heartgard plus brown for dogs prevents the disease altogether.

The only hope of a heartworm free life for your dog is to use heartgard plus brown for dogs. Heartgard plus brown for dogs is dosed for dogs that weigh 51 pounds to 100 pounds and comes in a pack with 6 pieces or in a 12-piece pack. Heartgard plus brown for dogs has to be administered to your dog once every month in approximately the same day each month until further notice from your veterinarian. There are side effects to this medication, but the chances of having any side effects are below 0.3%. Common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea.

Heartgard plus brown for dogs does not only protect your dog against heartworms but it also removes other worms such as hookworms simultaneously. This is an added feature which saves you time in getting your dog de-wormed and it saves you the trip to the veterinarian and the money that you will be spending. If you value your dog’s life, then you will protect your dog and prevent it from getting heartworm disease by giving it heartgard plus brown for dogs every month. You will see how much worry will be taken off your back once you are using heartgard to secure your dog’s life.

Heartworms are associated with the most fatal disease for cats and dogs alike. Cats however get infected with the heartworm lesser than dogs, because the immune system of the cat is more heartworm resistant. The effects on a cat however can be fatal and that is why we are here to discuss the effect, symptoms and treatments of heartworm disease with heartgard for cats.

Once a cat is infected with heartworm larvae, most of the larvae die within weeks because of the strong immune system of the cat. Adult worms are only seldom found in a cat because there is no space in the cat for more than 5 heartworms at once and because earlier stages die off easily. Once the heartworm has matured into the adult stage however, the feline is at risk. There can be around 1-3 adult heartworms at once, but since the veins and arteries are smaller in a cat, the effects and symptoms will be more fatal. Heartgard for cats can prevent the spread of larvae and adult heartworms as well and you can administer heartgard for cats even if your feline is already infected.

The most dangerous part about feline heartworm disease is not the living worm, but the dead worm. Dead or dying heartworms can clog up the arteries and veins and thus create serious conditions to the heart and the lung of the cat. The lungs are more often damaged than the heart, and you will see symptoms of coughing and vomiting or asthma like symptoms once a heartworm died. Some felines will also have allergic reactions towards the dead heartworm and cats unfortunately often will end up in a sudden death. Now that you know how dangerous heartworms can be for your cat, you need to go to your veterinarian and have heartgard for cats prescribed for your feline.

Give your cat heartgard for cats once a month for as long as the mild, mosquito conducive periods last, because heartworm larvae get transmitted via mosquitoes. You can avail of heartgard for cats as tablets that you have to give your cat or mix with the food, or you can get heartgard for cats as chewable with beef flavor, which your feline can just munch away. Heartgard for cats does not only protect your cat from heartworm disease, but it also prevents further spread of hookworms and kills them off.

Use heartgard for cats to provide a healthy and long life for your cat, so that you will see your cat grow and get old. Start using heartgard for cats with felines starting 6 months and above for an early prevention. For further inquiries, you can always consult your veterinarian or visit the heartgard website.

It isn’t surprising that the cat has snuck its cute little head into the races as a pet owner favorite around the world. The internet itself has only helped bloom the fame of these feisty felines as they’ve owned the world of memes and motivational posters from day one. Unfortunately, there are diseases in the world that threaten a wide range of our pets, cats included. This is the heartworm, an infection that if left untreated, can seriously impair and even kill cats. Luckily, there are people out there who’ve decided that cats and animals in general are worth protecting. The people at Merial have made a drug called Heartgard which, in the case of cats, can treat heartworm as well as prevent it from ever getting a foothold in your cat.

Heartworm usually infects through mosquitoes, their favored vectors. As its name suggests, heartworms spend a large amount of their time living in your pet’s heart. For other animals, such as dogs, the heartworm at its worst can create a several thousand worms per day to infect the canine. This can lead to horrible symptoms over six months, such as blindness or lameness. Sometimes they can even not produce symptoms at all, hiding in the shadows. Luckily for cat owners, the cat is much more resistant to the worm and reacts better to Heartgard. Most larvae do not last very long in a cat, leaving them with two to five infections and their life span inside a cat is significantly shorter, reduced to two or three years. Unfortunately, this has the side effect of more misplaced larvae affecting the brain.

Heartgard seeks to prevent that risk from ever coming to fruition or if it’s there, treat it. The drug is available from any veterinarian who prescribes it to your pet and has been deemed safe for your pets of any weight. Cat owners can rejoice once more as while an infected dog cannot take Heartgard, infected or non-infected cats can take it as they will, as long as they follow the prescription. Overdose can quickly lead to blindness or in the worst case, even death, so owners should make sure that does not happen. Cats also have an extra boon in Heartgard as for them, it also controls hookworms. It uses Invermectin to treat the sickness. While Invermectin has a history of causing side effects, there is little enough of it that is not a concern.

Dogs at their puppy age are highly susceptible to be infected with heartworm. Mosquitoes are the main vector for spreading the deadly disease of heartworm which is why Heartgard for puppies is becoming a highly viable preventive medication to protect your dogs from contracting the heartworm disease at their puppy age.

Because prevention remains to be the best medicine for fighting the spread of heartworm disease among dogs, your puppies must be medicated with Heartgard for puppies as soon as they reach 6 weeks of age. This is because heartworm disease is hard to treat once it already caused irreversible damage to the body system of dogs and undergoing treatment against heartworm is an expensive process.

Heartgard for puppies provides strong defense to dogs as young as 6 weeks old which prevents the growth of larva from growing to reach a mature state of a heartworm where it can migrate into the heart giving it more workload that can retard the circulatory system leading to multiple organ failure due to lack of blood supply into the body.

The heartworm disease is transmitted through mosquito bites which can be transferred from one host into another. The larva will harbor in the bloodstream where it will be incubated to grow into a harmful parasite that then migrates into the heart to cause fatal death to the infected dogs.

With the preventive measure of using Heartgard for puppies, the possibility of harboring the growth of heartworm in the body of your pet dogs is prevented as it gives protection by killing the larva before it becomes mature enough to cause harm. Heartgard for puppies is also effective against other intestinal parasites such as hookworms and roundworms thereby giving your puppies multiple preventive actions against harmful parasite.

The maintenance of Heartgard for puppies is a less expensive medication as this is only given to dogs once a month as a preventive measure against heartworm. Since every dog is a candidate for heartworm infection it is always best to provide dogs with the protection they need against this fatal and deadly disease.

Heartgard for puppies are well tolerated by dogs as young as 6 weeks and is given once a month. Dogs that are taking Heartgard for puppies like its beef flavored chewable tablet thereby giving their owners no hassle of giving them the medicine.

Most pet owners prefer Heartgard for puppies to give their pets since there are lesser side effects on its use and it is highly tolerable by puppies. If you want to provide your puppies the complete and reliable protection against heartworm then give them Heartgard for puppies which are highly recommended by veterinarians.

Generally, people do not realize what they are really getting into once they decide to get a dog. Dogs are adorable and they are fun to play with, but maintaining them is not easy. There are many things that a dog might need. You need to have brushes, toys, beds and sacks of dog foods. You also have to make sure that your dog is free from diseases. A potentially dangerous threat to your dog is a heartworm infestation, so you have to make sure that you have preventive medications against these parasites. You should visit your veterinarian and inquire about 12 months Heartgard.

Your Dog’s 12 Months Heartgard

You need to have a prescription before you can get 12 months Heartgard. The dosage will depend upon the weight of your pet. So, if your pet is about 25 pounds, he or she will likely get the correct dosage of this preventive medication. There is a proper dosage for bigger dogs as well. The medication comes in different boxes as well. A half-year supply will likely cost you $30 or more.

Giving Your Dog a Treat

Dogs love Heartgard. They think of this medication as a treat. You need to give your dog one tablet of 12 months Heartgard to protect him against heartworms. Actually, you need to do this every month for the rest of his life starting from the time he is 7 months old. It is easy to administer this medication because it is a flavored tablet that dogs love to chew on. You can even find a tablet that is bacon-flavored. It practically smells like meat. The tablets are about the size of a couple of bullion cubes.

You could cut the tablet in half if your dog can’t handle the whole thing. You can then give your pet the tablets one at a time. Just make sure that you watch while your dog eats the pieces, so you are sure that he or she consumes all of it; otherwise, it won’t be effective. Your dog won’t be protected against heartworms. It is advisable that you give the medication in the morning before your dog has eaten anything. He or she will be hungry then and would only be too willing to gobble up your treat especially if it smells like bacon.

Schedule a fix date every month to give your dog 12 months Heartgard. Make sure that you can remember the date. You can mark it on your calendar. You cannot let a month passed by without getting your dog to take this preventive medication.

Overall, if you would like to protect your dog from parasitic infestation, you should make sure that you give him preventive medications like 12 months Heartgard. This may cost you money, but it possibly means a longer life for your dog.