[Billie]

Anyone else hear of this happening?
A client of mine contacted me yesterday, apparantly,his female (3yrs) has been recently diagnosed (3 different blood tests) with HW. Shes been on Revolution her whole life-
He is not happy of course. Anyone else know of any cases like this?

 

[goosebruce]

I know of dozens of cases here in the midsouth (tn, ar, ms area) with dogs I know have been treated. Including 3 of my 4. Most of them on hartguard, but thats what most give so that only makes sense. But on the other meds, and on the liquid ivomec too. Hartworms are rampent in this part of the country, yet everyone 'in the know' acts shocked. Ive got another dog with it right now, supposedly he was clear last year, and got the meds between the time of his last check up and when I first got him, but who knows. travis

 

[Guest]

Mine have been on hearguard since they were 7 weeks tested a few months ago negative, Thank Goodness. One is 9 yrs and one is 6 .

Cindy

 

[ducktrickster]

yes

My five year old blf was just tested positive and has been on heartguard all her life. Seems like all of a sudden this is coming up more and more.

 

[Amelia Crane]

That happened to my bosses lab. He (the lab) was on heartguard and tested postive this winter. The company paid for his treatment because he could prove that he bought the meds regularly from his vet. His vet is the one that recommended contacting heartguard to pay for treatment. You may get him to check with his vet and see if revolution will pay for treatment with proof of purchase from vet.

 

[Lance Vines]

My personal dog just tested positive. She gets Heartguard on the 1st and straight Ivomec on the 15th. she tested neg 6 months ago. And the heartworm company is still claiming that people are not giving the pill when they are suppose to. BULL!!!

 

[Heather McCormack]

Revolution

I just took Fate and Birdy in for their shots and both are negative, but while there the vet said Dogs are contracting HW's while on Revolution. They will not recommend it to dog owners. They said it is working fine on cats.
I have always used Heartguard and so far all has been good. I'm hearing this is going to be a bad year for HW.

I hope this dog responds to the treatment.

Heather

 

[BuckBrush]

Heart Worms

I an located just outside Memphis TN. and the numbers has not stoped here of people finding out that there dog or dogs have tested positive and are on anything from heart guard , interceptor Etc..... Wish they could figure out whats going on in my area and surrounding areas . summers will be here and we roll the dice again. By the way just got in from the vet today and my 16 month old is negative at this time and for you that test positive my thoughts and best wishes to you.


Keith

 

[wheelhorse]

There have rumors from the deep south that there have been many positives even though the dogs have been on heartguard. As with any anti parasitic med, resistance can occur.

 

[JUNKMAN]

hw

my 4yr old chessie tested positive in Nov., last Dec was clear........ on heartguard. after about two months of treatment in which i had to keep him calm........which is next to impossible.... he's clear again. I got him from Alabama in july. joe

 

[Zack]

There are pros paying vets to come out on the 1st of every month to monitor the administration of the HW meds it has become such a common occurance. I havent heard of a ton of them in Texas but Arkansas has had a bunch of cases come up.

 

[Guest]

There are pros paying vets to come out on the 1st of every month to monitor the administration of the HW meds it has become such a common occurance. I havent heard of a ton of them in Texas but Arkansas has had a bunch of cases come up.

Are they doing this for liability purposes? So they have proof for their clients should anything happen?

I don't blame them. Seems real localized and I hate that it's not too terribly far from me.

Do they think it's a new strain or something? Wouldn't it make sense that, like antibiotics, at some point heartworms would grow resistance to the meds? Or does it not work that way?

I wonder how often we maybe should be testing our dogs just in case?

-K

 

[Guest]

http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34079&highlight=

 

[Pat Puwal]

Our dogs have always been on Heartguard Plus and no heartworm so far, but they have had other worms - round and whip. Talked to my vet and decided to change to Interceptor.
There is a letter on the internet under Heartguard Plus (probably about page 5 on Google) from the USDA, I believe, to Heartguard telling them to quit advertising they are 100% effective when they are not. It is dated 2005!

 

[Zack]

There are pros paying vets to come out on the 1st of every month to monitor the administration of the HW meds it has become such a common occurance. I havent heard of a ton of them in Texas but Arkansas has had a bunch of cases come up.

Are they doing this for liability purposes? So they have proof for their clients should anything happen?

I don't blame them. Seems real localized and I hate that it's not too terribly far from me.

Do they think it's a new strain or something? Wouldn't it make sense that, like antibiotics, at some point heartworms would grow resistance to the meds? Or does it not work that way?

I wonder how often we maybe should be testing our dogs just in case?

-K

Yep. Unfortunately it is a CYA type situation. The huge benifit is that the vet physically examines each dog and may notice things that you wouldnt ordianarilly notice. I think its a good idea and may go to it myself someday. If I lived in Arkansas where I have heard of numberous incidents like this, I would already be doing it.

 

[msdaisey]

Could a problem exist with the test itself?

Just thinking . . .

 

[Guest]

There are pros paying vets to come out on the 1st of every month to monitor the administration of the HW meds it has become such a common occurance. I havent heard of a ton of them in Texas but Arkansas has had a bunch of cases come up.

Are they doing this for liability purposes? So they have proof for their clients should anything happen?

I don't blame them. Seems real localized and I hate that it's not too terribly far from me.

Do they think it's a new strain or something? Wouldn't it make sense that, like antibiotics, at some point heartworms would grow resistance to the meds? Or does it not work that way?

I wonder how often we maybe should be testing our dogs just in case?

-K

Yep. Unfortunately it is a CYA type situation. The huge benifit is that the vet physically examines each dog and may notice things that you wouldnt ordianarilly notice. I think its a good idea and may go to it myself someday. If I lived in Arkansas where I have heard of numberous incidents like this, I would already be doing it.

I'm lucky that I live with one.

But we're in a very heartworm prevalent area. so i would think we may be "next". The rule is that if your dog isn't on prevention in our area, there's a 90% chance of heartworm infestation. Scary stuff.

I have SEEN several dogs with heartworm, including one that came to train with us (had it upon arrival). They have all been underweight with a dull coat. One had a cough (which happens when the condition is pretty advanced).

I think it makes TOTAL SENSE, for a number of reasons, for the folks you mentioned to be doing what they're doing. It's in the best interest of BOTH them AND their dogs. So kudos to them. I was just curious...

 

[Guest]

Could a problem exist with the test itself?

Just thinking . . .

Ahhhh, so false positive.... hmmmm..... maybe it would be a good idea to find out if everyone's used the same test. Good thinking, Sondra!

 

[ErinsEdge]

I had been using the 1% ivermectrin diluted down to a dose for heartworms and now I give the higher dose monthly that gets the roundworms etc (straight per weight for about 2 years). Since the retailed heartguard has to be able to give the correct dosage to the collie and sheltie breeds, perhaps it is not a high enough concentration and the heartworms are developing resistence? I sold a dog down in the Chicago burbs that developed heartworm on prevention at 8 years old and did not survive. This was already probably about 10 years ago. I have not had a positive myself.

 

[Guest]

I had been using the 1% ivermectrin diluted down to a dose for heartworms and now I give the higher dose monthly that gets the roundworms etc (straight per weight for about 2 years). Since the retailed heartguard has to be able to give the correct dosage to the collie and sheltie breeds, perhaps it is not a high enough concentration and the heartworms are developing resistence? I sold a dog down in the Chicago burbs that developed heartworm on prevention at 8 years old and did not survive. This was already probably about 10 years ago. I have not had a positive myself.

I do same as you with all the dogs here (some owners provide boxed heartworm) and I've never had a positive either (thank God). I just hope it stays that way... I like to think it works fine because I think with all the dogs and the area we're in, we'd have seen it if it wasn't working.