Author Topic: pupppy heartworm?  (Read 5698 times)

Offline Annabelle

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pupppy heartworm?
« on: August 16, 2006, 02:03:24 am »
I'm getting mixed info on what age to start our pup on heartgaurd!  she is 10.5 weeks now.  our vet was saying 4 months???   when I take her outside SKEETERS are everywhere in the grass!  she is on advantix...fle as/ticks/mosquitos...ya know.  BUT, I am not sure it's working???  b/c she spins around and bites her tail and rear hips often.
one other question how many months do pups eat pup feed b/f going up to adult food...this isn't a problem...just curious? :)
thanks!!!

Kiahpyr

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Re: pupppy heartworm?
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2006, 10:59:32 am »
Did the vet give you a reason to wait until 4 months? I know I started Kiah on heartgaurd earlier then that. I would look on the back of the package and it will tell you how old the dog has to be.

Now switching to adult dog food is a tricky question. I know that giant breed dogs like danes, newfies, saints shouldn't be feed puppy food cause they can grow to fast which is bad on their joints. For my pyr I switched at six months. I didn't worry about her growth cause she's hard to keep weight and was in the normal growth rate. I think it also depends on the dog and how they grow.
« Last Edit: August 16, 2006, 11:02:35 am by Tajsa »

Offline kathryn

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Re: pupppy heartworm?
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2006, 01:21:38 pm »
I honestly don't remember when I started mine on heartworm meds.  So I can't really help with that.  But for the adult food switch, I think is basically whenever you really feel like it.  For Cinder and Kaila the switch was made when Kaila turned a year old but Shiner has never been on puppy food.  He has been eating the Natural Balance Ultra Premium dry and Merrick wet food with the girls since I got him and before that he was on Purina Lamb and Rice.  I wish now that I had switched Kaila to adult food earlier because it might have avoided her having pano when she was a puppy.
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Offline Saint and Mal mom

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Re: pupppy heartworm?
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2006, 04:01:57 pm »
For large breed dogs, I was told to wait until 18 months old. For giant breed dogs, they said 2 years. That's what I've been going by. And the heartguard, I started at 3 months old I think. Not sure. Whatever it says on the package of Interceptor is when I started it! I agree that you should ask your vet why he advises you wait so long.
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Offline brandon

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Re: pupppy heartworm?
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2006, 04:45:51 pm »
Quote
HEARTGARD Plus is highly effective in preventing heartworm disease in dogs and puppies as young as 6 weeks old.

http://heartgard.us.merial.com/whyheartgard/why_heartgard.asp

Straight from the manufacturers website.

The mosquitos are really bad here this year also, I would want them on the preventative as soon as possible.


More info:
Quote
Ivermectin generally should be avoided in dogs less than 6 weeks of age.
http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/ivermectin-ivomec-heartgard/page1.aspx
« Last Edit: August 16, 2006, 04:48:43 pm by brandon »
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Offline lshelley21

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Re: pupppy heartworm?
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2006, 07:20:41 am »
Be cautious on heartguard...i know great danes anyways are sensitive to that... i was told to give interceptor after 6 months of age... you are putting a pesticde in the dog and they want the immune system to develop first. From what my vet said to me about Jaz
Lauren, Jazmine (great dane)
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Willy (ferret)
Samantha (ferret)
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Oh yeah.. my pet.. Matt (hubby)
Our pets are all above