BajaNomad

Which Doggy Heartworm Meds?

CP - 10-1-2008 at 09:09 AM

What should I look/ask for at the vet store for heartworm prevention? For fleas I get Frontline from the US/CAN because the Frontline I see at the stores here looks to be a different formula. Maybe its better than the NA stuff. I don't know. But I did not want to shake up my old cat's routine and when we got the doggy, we just kept up with the imported stuff for her, too. Anyways, I have never used heartworm medicine and only know that it is something I should be giving our dear one. If you other doggy parents have confidence in what we can get down here, I will go with that. Or if you think I should get it from the US, I will work that out.
Thanks for the advice.

jodiego - 10-1-2008 at 09:20 AM

I use Interceptor. 6 flavor tabs for $43 (US vet). I do believe you need to get a heartworm exam before each refill.

bajaguy - 10-1-2008 at 09:24 AM

Yup, a simple blood test for heartworm. We use Interceptor for the heartworm and Frontline Plus for fleas and ticks. Both are weight specific for the doggies.

DianaT - 10-1-2008 at 09:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by CP
What should I look/ask for at the vet store for heartworm prevention? For fleas I get Frontline from the US/CAN because the Frontline I see at the stores here looks to be a different formula. Maybe its better than the NA stuff. I don't know. But I did not want to shake up my old cat's routine and when we got the doggy, we just kept up with the imported stuff for her, too. Anyways, I have never used heartworm medicine and only know that it is something I should be giving our dear one. If you other doggy parents have confidence in what we can get down here, I will go with that. Or if you think I should get it from the US, I will work that out.
Thanks for the advice.


I am not a vet, but this is what our vets have told us. They will not start a dog on heartworm meds the first time without doing a test first to make sure they are not already infected----they tell us if a dog has heartworms, the meds are dangerous.

We have our dogs on Heartguard Plus and our vet tells us that it works for all worms, except tape worm. Don't know about buying it in Mexico, we just buy many months at one time and take it with us. Also, I would check the expiration date of all doggie meds.

But then again, we spend more on our dogs with medicine, vets, etc. than we spend on us! They don't have insurance. :lol:

Diane

nevadacitynurse - 10-1-2008 at 03:09 PM

For prevention of heartworms, I use "Cardomec Plus" which I purchase at the feed store in Loreto. It is manufactured/imported by Merial, which is owned by Merck, well known is the US. The active ingredients are identical to Heartgard, they are ivermectin & pirantel. This product prevents canine heartworm disease by eliminating the tissue stage of heartworm larvae for a month after infection, therefore it must be given regularly, every 30 days. If the interval between doses exceeds 30 days, the efficacy of the drug will be reduced, allowing the larvae to grow into adult heartworms. Dogs must be tested prior to beginning Cardomec/Heartgard. This product is not effective on the adult stage of heartworm. Treatment of adult heartworm disease is very complicated, involves killing these worms slowly and watching the dog for adverse effects, both from the drugs used in addition to the toxins released by the worm itself. Often, treatment is accompanied by IV fluid administration and other supportive measures. This treatment should never be done without the advice/supervision of a veterinarian. Cardomec also prevents and control roundworms and hookworms, but not tapeworm. I paid 295 pesos for 6 tablets of the "golden retriever" dosage (23 to 45 kg) compared to $52 for the exact same thing in the US. Never had any trouble taking a few boxes north accross the border, packed in with my dogs food & other stuff.

CP - 10-1-2008 at 03:40 PM

Thank you all!

DrTom - 10-2-2008 at 08:30 AM

cardomec is fine for microfilaria prevention, doesnt kill adults, so you need annual testing for adults.....also test for ehrlichia. frontline also prevents microfiliaria....so does revolution and sentinel. my recommendation is talk to a vet, get the test, get the drugs.....youll save 20$ playing with it yourself....bad idea.

DrTom - 10-2-2008 at 05:30 PM

important to test yearly, we're starting to see resistance to preventative in north america....

DianaT - 10-2-2008 at 05:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DrTom
important to test yearly, we're starting to see resistance to preventative in north america....


Thanks, we have not tested yearly, but will do so now.

Diane

Marie-Rose - 10-2-2008 at 05:42 PM

After our last experience with our dogs in Mexico I swear by Revolution. We came home with 3 dogs last spring. One was a young female that we rescued and had treated for erlichea and was still getting Ivermectin for dermodetic mange ( common with young dogs in Mexico and fairly easy treated- not contagious). The other 2 were our dogs, one of them a rescue from years prior and the other an elderly blue heeler. The heeler started acting strangely before we left. Not sleeping well, coat was dull and skin was in bad shape... starting really getting itchy.
We had weekly visits to our vet here and were almost at the point of trying anti-depressants feeling that he just could not take living with so many Mexican rescues:spingrin: (then I was going on antidepressants because of the amount of money we were spending!!) Then, my daughters dog started itching as did our other female... they did a scraping and it was sarcoptic mange.
What an ordeal of cleaning all of the house and linens.
Bottom line... one of the treatments is Revolution. For that reason alone we are sold!
Our heeler had very little contact with other dogs as he is not very social. If mange can be kept at bay with Revolution as well as heartworm...

[Edited on 2008-10-3 by Marie-Rose]

DrTom - 10-2-2008 at 05:56 PM

not a lot of veterinarians in mexico use revolution.....we are our areas largest account for revolution sales here in british columbia, i love the product. that said, you can also get the job done (for scabies etc) with ivermectin and cardomec, but again, heres the broken record, ask a veterinarian.