How can I Prevent Heartworms in my Pet?

How can I Prevent Heartworms in my Pet?
 
This is the third part of a series written by Dr. Christa Young, DVM.  
Do I really have to cram that pill down Fido's throat each month?  Does Mr. Meows really need heartworm protection?  YES! However we are here to help you find an option to protect your pet and minimize stress for both of you.  Heartworm preventatives are generally well-tolerated by pets with minimal side-effects. Just as no two pets are exactly alike, there are options to fit different pet lifestyles, risk levels, unique medical needs, and preferences.

Your veterinary team can help you navigate the options to choose what options best suit your pet and fits your budget.  

 

The options can include chews, flavored tablets, and topical liquids with many covering multiple kinds of parasites.  Heartgard is one of the better known options, but others include Trifexis, Sentinel Sepctrum, and Revolution.  Buying these products through your veterinarian or their partnered online accredited veterinary pharmacy provides four really important things:

1. The manufacturers do NOT guarantee their products if not purchased from a veterinarian directly or a veterinary clinic's online pharmacy. That means you the pet owner can be stuck with a large bill to treat a heartworm infection AND a very sick to potentially dead pet.  (See Part 2: What is the treatment for heartworms? to see just what the impact can be.)

2. Your veterinary team knows you and your pet. They know that Sparky is the master of cheeking pills, hates beef, and is prone to seizures. They can guide you to products safe for seizure-prone pets and teach you how to administer them effectively.

3. Your veterinary team can provide product support if there are issues because veterinarians and their partner pharmacies buy direct from the preventative product manufacturer. They know the product is real, handled & stored properly, and not tampered with.

4. Access to veterinary clinic exclusive coupons, rebates, and specials to help you save some cash while protecting your pets.
For more information on how to determine if an online pharmacy is properly licensed and complying with state and federal laws, check out the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's website for Vet-VIPPS or their .Pharmacy program.

Now, some of you are thinking "I've had dogs for 15 years without prevention and they never got heartworms!"
Count your blessings, and thank the fellow pet owners around you whose dogs and cats were on prevention, lowering the neighborhood risk.

As the Cone of Shame video "5 Things You Didn't Know About Heartworms" demonstrates, this is a serious yet preventable disease.

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