Heartworm
Heartworm testing is a big money maker for veterinarians. Since monthly preventives are virtually 100% effective and 18 months of one preventive (Heartguard which contains ivermectin) will actually cure an animal of the infection, yearly testing is very hard to justify. When your vet insists that testing is mandated before giving the preventitive, implying it would be harmful if given to an infected dog, remember this: The American Heartworm Society’s recommended TREATMENT for an infected dog is to give nothing but Heartguard monthly for the first six months. This sterilizes the female worms and they shrink in size which results in much less lung damage when they later die and deposit in the lungs. Then the Heartworm Society wants you to take the dog back to your vet so he/she can treat the animal but the Society reluctantly admits that 12 more months of monthly Heartguard will cure the animal. This is obviously much cheaper and safer than the vet treatment. I’m sure you vet will disagree!!
Also if it’s too cold for mosquitoes, there can be no danger of catching heartworm. Year around preventitive in areas of the country with seasons is a waste of your money. A new book “How to Afford Veterinary Care without Mortgaging the Kids” by Dr. Busby explains this and much more. Purchased locally, Amazon or Itasca Books. How to Afford Veterinary Care Without Mortgaging the Kids.
March 5, 2008 at 5:45 am
I have a dog that has been told to us that she has heartworms. I want to get her treated but im scarred that i might lose her. I read that to give her the heartgaurd tablet and that will cure her,but im not really sure because the vet said that would kill her. Then the vet told me that to treat her it will cost 400.00 dollars and they are for certain that the treatment they will give her will cure her or kill her. I really LOVE my dog she has been a family pet for 5 years and my one year old loves to get up in the morning and play with her. What do you think i should do try the heartguard treament or take her to the vet and let them treat her???
This vet is not being totally honest. The American Heartworm Assoc. stated that giving Heartguard for the first 6 months before the vet treatment was best because it sterilizes the female worms so they shrink in size. All dead worms flow into the lungs and plug lung arteries so it doesn’t take a rocker scientist to see that the smaller the worm, the less lung damage there is. The Heartworm Assoc. also admitted that 18 months of monthly Heartguard would kill the worms and thus treat the dog. This fact has been known for at least 15 years but vets don’t make any money this way and don’t talk about it. Any dead worm causes some lung damage but the vet treatment kills them all at once when they are full sized and cause the most damage to the dog. Some vets charge over $1000. They will even try to intimidate owners by claiming that the animal must be confined during the treatment and their treatment method only requires a month of confinement rather that a year and a half with the monthly Heartguard. Since no worms die until after 6 months, this is obviously another bit of dishonesty. And since the worms die slowly during this year, there is very little acute lung damage and the dog has no need of restrictions. There is some danger with both treatments but 18 months of monthly Heartguard or ivermectin (explained in my book) is by far the safest and least expensive way to go.
Dr. Busby