Heartworm preventatives?

We are from Ontario, and in Fla. now and have been told to put our dogs on heartworm preventatives. (medicinal). Being that we are in the heartworm area, I wonder if it is neccesary. I hesitate to put them on anything. They have had puppy shots and rabies shots, and otherwise have been titred and have had nothing else. One of my dogs had a flysnapping reaction that lasted 10 days to metronodazol. HE is 2 years old, my other dog is a 4 month old puppy. I really wonder if they need heartworm preventative. The one reccomended by the vets here is interceptor. I had my 2 year old heartworm tested, and so far shows no signs of having it.

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Answer 1 / 4

Submitted 272 days ago...

Ruchele

Brain (3,118)

YES. Firstly, your dog MUST test negative for heartworms in order to be given the preventative as giving this to a dog who has active heartworms can mean certain death. Heartworms is a deadly parasite that lives in and feeds on the heart muscle, it is passed by mosquitos, and Florida has the highest rate in the nation. If you love your dogs, it is worth it.

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Answer 2 / 4

Submitted 261 days ago...

ratfd

New User (3)

Yes you must put them on prevention!! Heartworm is almost always deadly. Once a dog contracts heartworms, the treatment is extremely hard on the dog and most of them don't survive the treatment. Dogs must test negative before being put on heartworm preventative. Once the dog tests positive, its almost always is too late. If you know anyone who has lost a dog to heartworms, you wouldn't hesitate to start your dogs on the prevenetative immediately..

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Answer 3 / 4

Submitted 171 days ago...

Ffox

New User (7)

The heart worm medications are very reasonable and the heartworm is very fatal. One mosquito is all it takes to lay the eggs which grow into the larvae which cling to your dogs heart and can grow there to 8".
It is a slow, insidious death which can be completely prevented and the cure is even worse on the dogs as well as your pocket.
PUT YOUR DOG ON HW PREVENTATIVE IMMEDIATELY is my advice. I have experienced all of the above scenarios and I'll never forget and never do that to any animal again.
Sometimes it is smart to question the vets advice, diagnosis, or opinion, but in this case, JUST DO IT!

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Answer 4 / 4

Submitted 107 days ago...

Skoolie

Professor (1,590)

Yes here in Florida it is very important to have your dogs put on heartworm prevenative. It's inexpensive and can save your dogs life.

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