Heartworms in Dogs

What are heartworms?
 
These are parasites that live in dogs’ bodies. These parasites are transmitted by mosquitoes (so most of the spread happens in the summer when there’s a lot of them). They bite an infected dog and incubate the larvae in their bodies, and when they bite a healthy dog, they transfer the parasites over.
 
The parasites live off in the blodstream until they become adults. Then they move into the heart and stay there. When they grow too long, or when there’s just too many heartworms in there, the poor dog’s heart will soon give way to heart failure.

What is Heartgard?
 
Heartgard is a medicine for prevention of parasites in dogs. It’s generic name is Ivermectin/Pyrantel. Ivermectin is the component for parasites (Heartworm) while Pyrantel is the one for hookworms and ascarids (mainly worms from the digestive system). It is given once a month, with the dose depending on the weight and the breed of your pet.

Prevent Heartgard Overdose

Before giving Heartgard to your pet, it is best to go to a vet for proper assessment and dosage. The dose depends on the weight of your dog. More if he’s a larger breed and less of the medicine if he’s small. If your pet is on a prescription of Heartgard, it is best you know which signs of overdose to look out for.

Remember, Heartgard attacks the nerves of the parasite, so you need to look out for signs of neural agitation on your pets. Heartgard is also toxic for dogs who are already infected with the parasite. See it only works for the younger ones that are in your pet’s body but the heart. Once the parasites have become adults and have migrated to the dog’s heart, Heartgard will no longer work.

You could be poisoning the parasite, but you could also very well be poisoning your dog. These are the signs of impending overdose you need to watch out for
 
Disorientation.
Stumbling
Blindness

These first three are related, and are usually the first signs of overdose. The other symptoms are:

Weakness
Tremors
Vomiting
Drooling
Coma
 
If your pet shows these symptoms, you have to bring him over to your vet for proper detox.

If you notice your medicine box empty and have suspicion your pet might have taken the meds, call the animal poison hotline (ASPAC) for assistance with assessment/first aid for overdose. Although extra meds than prescribed are not good for your dog, one or two pills will not kill him. Better yet, call an emergency vet or bring him to the clinic because a dog can die quickly from overdose.

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