Additional testing ought to be administered prior to any alteration in the existing preventive medicine or dosage. Because it takes approximately six months before tests indicate the presence of the parasite, a puppy can start a regimen of preventive treatments without the testing. It is recommended that in those places where there is the high risk of heartworm e.
The tests require blood samples and may involve looking for antigens to detect infection, or the presence of antibodies that are resisting the heartworms in the body. The testing will not only determine the presence of heartworm , but also the amount of preventive medication to be prescribed to the pet. A positive diagnosis is going to require immediate action. Cats will require long term management and possible hospitalization. Treatment of heartworm in dogs does carry some risk.
It is expensive and the cost can be hundreds of dollars. The most common drug used to treat heartworm infection, Immiticide , is a poison that will kill the heartworm. It has to be administered several times in a series of injections.
Another type of treatment uses the drug Ivermectin combined with Doxycycline. Why does my dog need to be tested for heartworm if he is on continuous heartworm preventative? Tags: heartworm annual heartworm test. Featured Posts. Recent Posts. Homeagain Microchip "Membership" Information. Thanksgiving Pet Safety. How To Pill A Cat. Potentially Deadly Canine Flu Outbreak.
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Search By Tags. There are 2 ways to test for heartworm. The most common, and most accurate is an antigen test, which tests for adult heartworm. The second method, which is much less sensitive, is a microfilaria test, which essentially tests for the offspring of adult heartworms. To test for heartworm using the antigen test, we need a small blood sample, usually drops. The test generally takes minutes to run, and then you will have the results.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In a word, yes. More often, the clients have gotten a 12 month supply and have doses left, but you see my point Another reason for yearly testing is for the small percentage of prevention failure with any heartworm preventative.
How is a heartworm test performed? Please make sure your pet is protected. Heartworm disease is deadly and so easily prevented.
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