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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / April 2006New here - simple Heartgard question
Hi, I have an adorable little Dachshund. Unfortunately, she was allowed to contract heart worms in her former life, BR - (B)efore (R)escue. As in most cases, she underwent the standard heart worm treatment(s) several years ago, and has been prescribed a lifetime diet of Heartgard, as perpetual prevention. The form of this Heartgard, administered monthly, is the chewable variety, which has some kind of meaty taste. It specifies "Heartgard plus blue - 68 mcg". However, the administration of this med is pretty tough on her, much as the original treatment, to a lesser severity. Even though we break the dosage in half for a morning and afternoon administration, it usually leaves her lethargic and a little less than 100%. But, she's still eating, functioning OK. Also, being twice the age as when the initial treatment was conducted, I feel contributes to her med sensitivity. The dosage is for dogs <=25 lbs. But, she only weighs ~12 lbs. My thoughts are that based on this, that she is really receiving a 200% dosage. My Vet who BTW, has done wonders on her prior life's medical neglect, simply say to continue the single tab dosage. I think that she might do better(less toxic shock) by a 50% dosage, by virtue of her size. I'll always adhere to the Vets directive(s) but, as fuel for further reduction pleas, I'm looking for any similar experiences where such a dosage has been reduced to more closely reflect the pet's true size. Thanks, Gary "Gary Walker" <twf@swbell.net> wrote in message news:OtI0g.16476> > I'll always adhere to the Vets directive(s) but, as fuel for > further reduction pleas, I'm looking for any similar experiences where > such > a dosage has been reduced to more closely reflect the pet's true size. Is there a reason you haven't tried her on an alternate medication like Interceptor, Sentinel, or Revolution? Dogs can be intolerant of any medication for various reasons and it's not like you have only the one choice. And many times the problem is not the medication itself but the flavoring or composition used to make the chewey carrier. Revolution is a topical- I might look at that if I were you.  SignatureToni http://www.irish-wolfhounds.com > "Gary Walker" <twf@swbell.net> wrote in message news:OtI0g.16476> > > I'll always adhere to the Vets directive(s) but, as fuel for [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > carrier. > Revolution is a topical- I might look at that if I were you. Well, I never really /knew of/thought about/ an alternative. The Vet simply prescribed the Heartgard product, and I merely operated within that guideline. I will mention that, as a possibility during my next checkup visit though. Thanks, for your advice. Gary > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > Gary She may have an ivermectin sensitivity. Pretty unusual, especially at heartworm doses, but theoretically possible. Why don't you try interceptor? It's another heartworm preventative, equally effective, but a different active ingredient. Or try heartgard tablets, in case it's the chew. Personally I don't like Revolution at all -- I've seen dogs contract heartworms while on this product (presumably because it didn't absorb properly through the skin, or possibly improper administration). FYI, you really shouldn't break the heartgard chew up, even to give it in the same day. It needs to all be given at one time. You also cannot give a "half dose" by breaking it up -- the medication is not distributed evenly inside the chew, so if you give her half, she might not get any medicine at all! I've given 2 lb puppies the full dose of heartgard and *never* seen a problem -- it's just such a safe drug. Deborah, DVM "Deborah, DVM" <dr_deborah@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:WmL0g.104218 > Personally I don't like Revolution at all -- I've seen dogs contract > heartworms while on this product (presumably because it didn't absorb > properly through the skin, or possibly improper administration). Would you not recommend it for cats either? Mine are 100% indoor, but I'm in South Florida and see mosquitoes inside frequently. SignatureToni http://www.irish-wolfhounds.com > "Deborah, DVM" <dr_deborah@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:WmL0g.104218 >> Personally I don't like Revolution at all -- I've seen dogs contract [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Mine are 100% indoor, but I'm in South Florida and see mosquitoes inside > frequently. No, I really like it for cats. Sorry for any confusion there. But it works a bit differently....cats groom themselves so much that you actually get a lot of oral absorption of the product (which is why it works for some intestinal worms in cats but not dogs). Plus we just don't see the same degree of heartworm disease in cats as in dogs, so the possibility of an occasional failure doesn't bother me nearly as much! Deborah, DVM "Deborah, DVM" <dr_deborah@hotmail.com> wrote in message > No, I really like it for cats. Sorry for any confusion there. But it works > a bit differently....cats groom themselves so much that you actually get a > lot of oral absorption of the product (which is why it works for some > intestinal worms in cats but not dogs). Plus we just don't see the same > degree of heartworm disease in cats as in dogs, so the possibility of an > occasional failure doesn't bother me nearly as much! So how obsessive should we be about keeping cats segregated after Revolution is applied? Should we try to keep them from licking one another for hours, or is incidental ingestion something beneficial (as your post sounds) that we should actually allow? SignatureToni http://www.irish-wolfhounds.com > So how obsessive should we be about keeping cats segregated after > Revolution > is applied? > Should we try to keep them from licking one another for hours, or is > incidental ingestion something beneficial (as your post sounds) that we > should actually allow? With any topical product in cats, I usually recommend separating for at least a few hours, to allow the product to distribute/penetrate as needed. I never really thought about Revolution in cats, and how mutual grooming would affect it! I suppose, theoretically, if one cat were grooming both himself and another cat, that cat might get extra revolution, which wouldn't hurt him, but the other cat might not get enough! I doubt there's enough absorption to make a difference, but it would be an interesting question to ask the manufacturer! Deborah, DVM > > So how obsessive should we be about keeping cats segregated after > > Revolution [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Deborah, DVM The vets I work for have stopped using Revolution,same reason as Deborah > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > Deborah, DVM Thanks Deb.... Toni, in a previous note, mentioned the alternative meds, which I will visit during Mollee's next checkup visit. Additionally, I think your comment(s) on dividing the medication is/are about the same as I was told by my Vet. Thanks again, Gary i have a 6lb chihuahua and i also give him the <25lb heartguard. its the right dose and as debi said its a rather safe drug. on the other hand, it does sound like your dog may have a sensitivity to something in heartguard. good luck =) Signature"God created the sky and the water, the beasts and the birds, man and land. But he did not create the dog, for he already had one." American Indian Proverb > i have a 6lb chihuahua and i also give him the <25lb heartguard. its > the right dose and as debi said its a rather safe drug. on the other > hand, it does sound like your dog may have a sensitivity to something > in heartguard. good luck =) Thanks Jossie.... I guess by my logic, your Chihuahua is receiving a 400% dosage. It appears that I might be mathematically accurate, but wrong otherwise. Gary |
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