Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Conflicted about heartworm preventatives

My question: Am I setting myself up for disaster if I do not give my dog any heartworm preventative? I lost my bulldog to AIHA last March. I never want to go through that pain again. Although her death had nothing to do with heartworm meds (she had not had a preventative in years due to a bad reaction as a pup) I know a lot of people have had problems with the meds. I have a 1 yr. old frenchie now, and she is not on any HP. But in the back of my mind, I'm worried about the possibility of her contracting heartworms. She is not outdoors very much, unless we are on a walk--maybe an hour at most outside. She does eat poop sometimes, and got whipworms once, which she was treated for with Panacur. I would like to hear your opinions as to pros/cons on HP's. Should I roll the dice and hope she never gets heartworm? Or should I give her the preventative and hope she doesn't get AIHA? THOUGHTS??

SAS Michigan

I've also been afraid to give my four dogs heartworm prevention since our Miniature Schnauzer was diagnosed with IMHA one week after I gave all of the dogs HeartGard Plus, in June 2007. He died 10 days after he was diagnosed, in July 2007. I haven't used HeartGard or any other heartworm prevention since. I also have mixed feelings about this. I have all of the dogs tested for heartworms, and they have fortunately all been negative. Sue

Sue PA

SAS, I, too, am concerned about giving heartworm medication. This month, for the first time, I've decided to give Interceptor at 45-day intervals rather than the 30-day package recommendation. I live in the south where mosquitos can be a problem in warm weather months. I do remember hearing that Interceptor works at 45 day doses, but I'm not certain. Karen

Karen NC

I hear ya, on the conflicted thing. I too am so conflicted over this issue. I had decided to only give my dogs the heartworm preventative every 45 days through the winter months - in the spring summer and fall those pesky things can carry you away here. While Aiyana was sick, my Vet said to go ahead and give her the heartworm preventative (she was due for one at the beginning of October). I waited, until her PCV had gone up, near the end of October. Now I am wondering if giving it to her is not what caused her to crash. I am thinking of giving it to my dogs starting in April or May - November, like we used to, if at all. I just switched them back to heartguard plus, when I picked them up last Friday, they were on triheart plus which is less expensive, but I had been noticing tummy upset in Dream for a few days after each one. I am also very conflicted over the vaccines now. This last time my dogs reacted, it has never happened before. Aiyana got AIHA, Hurley's head swelled up, he is now having seizures. Dream and Hurley both had bloody mucousy diarrhea for over a week. The choice is easy with Dream, she is 11 years old and will never get a vaccine again. With Hurley I am frightened, he is a young Sibe, his prey drive is strong, and he kills many small mammals. I guess I will go the titer test route with him... I just can't see any other way. I think it's great that we all have each other for support and to bounce ideas off of. This is one scary disease and we are all a bit gun shy from it - to say the least. blessings, Julie

Julie IL

I hear you. it was the 6 month injectable heartorm preventtive, proheartt6 that brought that horrible AIHA on my 4 year old golden retriever and killed him. This was october 2003. But living on the Texas coast and having mosquitoes year around, i was scared to NOT give the pills to my other 3 retrievers. my neighbor refused to give pills to her 2 "indoor dogs". both were diagnosed with heartworms. the older one, about 8 at timeof death died a miserble slow death as they filled his heart and lungs. They "couldn'tafford" to the treatment------could afford to spend $50 a whack on poke mon or other collectable cards a few times a month, but not take care of their dogs. And the idiot that she is, she never had the femaled spayed and at 6, she got pregnant, had puppie and it was to much for her heart worm filled body and she died. i know it is a tough call and had my Hunter lived, he would have never gotten another vaccine, but in this rea, i would have had to give him the monthly pill. we adopte a golden mix in 2002 that was heart worm positive and the treatmet is very harsh. by he way, mine get interceptor

SANDRA TEXAS

Me too, especially since Wylies relapse last month and we had just given her Heartgard Plus 5 days prior. My vet is not ruling out this was a trigger and said its possible. I was giving int in 45 day intervals. She had been on it since June and I was weighging the fact its almost winter and I gave it to her, I was struggling with this because we live in a rurual area she like to eat turkey poop and such so I liked the parasite stuff in heartgard. My vet said now we will talk in the spring and see what we want to do, He said Interceptor because it does not have the parasite stuff in it. Laurie

Laurie CA

Laurie-I'm confused, I always understood Interceptor to actually kill even one more type of parasite than Heartgard?? Are you sure you don't have them mixed up?

Lori USA

My Bertie had the 12 month heartworm injection at 6 months of age and just over 4 weeks later was diagnosed. Im reluctant to give him anything and so far all has been ok. I was told that Heartgard, not Heartgard plus would be ok, but Im too scared in case it causes a relapse. It is so difficlut to know what to do. Lisa

Lisa West Aust

I too am very skeptical now of HP, vaccines etc. What I plan to do is reseach all I can about these drugs and adverse canine reactions. I also plan discussions with my Vet on various subjects and get professional opinions. I plan on writing the University of Georgia Vet School and tell them my story and see what is being done about AIHA. I will collect facts and draw my own conclusions in the end.

Karen Augusta

This thread was discussed between 07/12/2008 and 10/12/2008

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