Behavior & Health Archives | Page 8 Of 8

If you are a owner dog, there are many problems which need your help from training your dog to speak to choosing dog food (whether or not your dog can eat cheerios, white chocolate, shrimp, beans, spam, red or green peppers and so on) especially its health is the most important thing you have to pay attention more than others. Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm which resides in the heart or lungs of the host that causes dirofilariasis or even leads to death. It only takes a mosquito bite and can spread from host to host. Although this disease may hurt cats, ferret even humans (rare cases), dogs are mainly its object. Therefore, if you are an owner of a dog, you should be more conscious about best heartworm prevention for dogs. It's easier to prevent heartworm compared to cure. Most of the treatments are quite challenging to do. I am also a dog owner, so today I'm here to go over with you what kind of drugs and ways are available to prevent heartworm. Related Topic: Why do puppies cough? Heartworm Disease in Dogs Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that affects dogs, as well as cats and other mammals. It is caused by a type of parasite called a heartworm, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites an infected animal and then bites a healthy animal, the heartworms are transmitted from the infected animal to the healthy animal. Heartworms grow and mature in the arteries of the lungs and heart, and they can cause serious damage to these organs. Symptoms of heartworm disease in dogs may include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss. In severe cases, heartworm disease can cause heart failure and death. To prevent heartworm disease in dogs, it is important to use a heartworm preventive medication. These medications are usually given monthly and can be obtained from a veterinarian. It is also important to have your dog tested regularly for heartworms, as early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve the chances of a successful outcome. In addition to using preventive medication and regular testing, there are other steps you can take to reduce the risk of heartworm disease in your dog: Keep your dog indoors or in a screened-in area during mosquito season, which is typically from spring to fall. Use mosquito repellents and mosquito netting to protect your dog when outdoors. Keep your yard free of standing water, as this is where mosquitoes breed. Consult with your veterinarian about the best prevention strategy for your dog, as some dogs may be more at risk for heartworm disease due to their breed, age, or other factors. Heartworm Infection in Dogs Heartworm infection is a condition that occurs when a dog becomes infected with heartworms, which are tiny worms that live in the heart and blood vessels of the lungs. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, which bite an infected animal and then bite a healthy animal, transmitting the heartworms from the infected animal to the healthy animal. Heartworms can cause serious damage to a dog's heart and lungs, and they can make it hard for a dog to breathe. Symptoms of heartworm infection in dogs may include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, heartworm infection can cause heart failure and death. To prevent heartworm infection in dogs, it is important to use a heartworm preventive medication. These medications are usually given monthly and can be obtained from a veterinarian. It is also important to have your dog tested regularly for heartworms, so that the infection can be treated early. What's the best heartworm prevention for your dog? When it comes to heartworm prevention products, it depends on your dog's specific requirements. Before anything else, keep in mind answering the following questions beforehand: How much money can you spend to buy heartworm medication? Determine whether or not it has any allergies then which ingredients in heartworm medication you have to avoid? Can you make a regular schedule of heartworm medication for your dog? Is your dog at danger for exposure to other types of parasites? Is your pet an indoor pet only and doesn't need protection from ticks and fleas Best Heartworm Medicines for Puppies There are several options for heartworm prevention in puppies, and the best choice will depend on your puppy's age, size, and overall health. Some common heartworm preventive medications for puppies include: Ivermectin: This medication is usually given monthly and is safe for puppies as young as 6 weeks old. It is available in several forms, including tablets, chewables, and topicals. Milbemycin: This medication is usually given monthly and is safe for puppies as young as 6 weeks old. It is available in several forms, including chewables and topicals. Moxidectin: This medication is usually given monthly and is safe for puppies as young as 8 weeks old. It is available in several forms, including tablets, chewables, and topicals. Pyrantel: This medication is usually given every 3 months and is safe for puppies as young as 2 weeks old. It is available in several forms, including chewables and liquid suspensions. It is important to consult with your veterinarian to determine the best heartworm preventive medication for your puppy. Your veterinarian will consider factors such as your puppy's age, weight, and overall health, as well as the specific heartworm preventive products that are available in your area. Let's consider the best heartworm prevention products available on the market: Best Heartworm prevention medication ImageDetailsPrimeCheck Price on AmazonPawesome Dewormer for Dogs and Cats - Made in USA Broad Spectrum Worm Treatment - Eliminates & Prevents Tapeworms, Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms - All Breeds and Size - Puppy & Kitten - 2ozPrimeEligibleCheck Price on AmazonBayer K9 Advantix II Flea, Tick and Mosquito Prevention for Large Dogs, 21 - 55 lb, 4 dosesPrimeEligibleCheck Price on AmazonBayer 136mg Large 45 lb + Dog 2 Count Quad Chewable Dewormer, 45 lb and GreaterPrimeEligibleCheck Price on Amazon8in1 Safe-Guard Canine Dewormer for Large Dogs, 3 Day TreatmentPrimeEligibleCheck Price on Amazon Oral medication: If you can't make a regular schedule, taking oral tablets is the easiest way to administer your dog's medication. Some dogs have a tendency to refuse any kinds of medications, so it's best to wrap your oral tablet in a ball of very delicious food like cheese and other wet foods. Oral products typically contain either ivermectin or milbemycin as the active ingredient. Most oral heartworm medications have more than one function. Some will not only kill heartworm larvae, but will also eliminate internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and/or whipworms. There are also oral medications that includes ingredients that also work to eliminate fleas by stopping them from producing live eggs. Oral heartworm medications are administered once a month and the best way to get your dog to take the medication is to wrap it in one of it's favorite treats such as cheese, deli meats, etc. Below are some of the oral medications for dog heartworm: Related Topic: How long should a dog where a cone after surgery Heartgard Plus: Because the main ingredients include Pyrantel Pamoate and Ivermectin, aside from heartworm, it's also very ideal to prevent roundworm and hookworm. The dosage of Heartgard Plus is monthly.This kind of medication is produced with a unique shape and flavor - beef-flavored chewable cube. If you are a dog owner which doesn't love medicine, this is an excellent solution. Your dog will considered it as a reward.In some places in the world, Heartgard Plus may be a product which comes with warnings staying away herding breeds such as shepherds, and collies due to its genetic sensitivity to ivermectin. Nonetheless, although this sensitivity relates to the deletion mutation of the mdr1 gene, it just happens with a pretty high dosage such as the use of mange treatment and stimulation of a reaction. Safe-gard 4: Apart from heartworm prevention, the main ingredient in Interceptor - Milbemycin oxime is one of the medications to help hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm. The dosage of the Interceptor is monthly.As a palatable medication product, Interceptor is chewable pills which are smaller than Heartgard Plus. According to feedback from previous buyers, their dogs love the flavor of this type of medication. Trifexis: The main ingredients include Milbemycin Oxime and Spinosad. Its dosage is monthly. More than other products, Trifexis can prevent not only heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, whipworm but also fleas.The uniqueness is that it is heartworm and fleas prevention that makes your care easier. However, this potent drug should make you cautious about allowing your dog to use. Apparently, Trifexis can kill the terrible parasites, but it is also the reason which causes an upset stomach. Topical Liquids: Topical heartworm preventive medications are available for both dogs and cats. These medications are applied monthly to the back of the next or between your pets shoulder blades on the skin where they can't lick. Not only do these medications prevent heartworm they also kill flea larvae. Therefore, if you would like to use topical liquids, I strongly recommend you do some research to know how to administer properly before anything else. You can refer to this following video to understand how to give your dog liquids medicine. Below are some of the popular topical liquid heartworm medications: Advantage II for dogs: Imidacloprid and Moxidectin are 2 main ingredients of Bayer Advantage II for Dogs Like Trifexis, it can prevent heartworm, roundworm, whipworm, and fleas, the dosage is monthly.As the name suggests, it can control multiple parasites which are both external and internal. So there is no need to worry about the options of different medications for different problems. This is the various medications. Aside from benefits, Advantage Multi also gets some rare drawbacks such as irritation, sensitivity, and neurological reaction in the hypersensitive dog. Revolution: Selamectin is its main ingredient. What revolution can prevent is ear mites, scabies, ticks, fleas, and heartworm, of course. Like others, the dosage is monthly.If you own a cat, this is an ideal product which comes with many advantages. With dogs, to get the best outcome, the medication must regularly be applied without being missed. Thus, combining it with oral medication (Heartgard or Interceptor) is a wise idea. Injectables: This is an excellent choice for owners who are in a busy lifestyle. If a monthly dosage can't be applied because of your schedule, make a purchase of injectable heartworm medication. ProHeart - the only injectable heartworm medication is available on the market. ProHeart: Moxidectin - its main ingredient is useful in heartworm and hookworm prevention. The dosage of ProHeart is 6 months.Though this is very convenient, not all dogs can use. Keep your dog away ProHeart if it is old or allergic to one of the ingredients in ProHeart. You had better have an appointment with your vet to make sure your dog suits with this kind of medication. Important note: Whether or not you intend to use Injectable, having an appointment with your vet is a must. He or she will let you know if your dog has heartworm and provide some advice about heartworm prevention. Conclusion: Keep in mind that prevention is easier and cheaper than treatment so as a dog owner, you have to be preparationed to look for best heartworm prevention for dogs. First, make an appointment with your veterinarian then choose a suitable medication to apply. If you are busy, think about ProHeart and Oral medicines. In general, all medication mentioned above can safely be applied to your puppy to control heartworm.Have you tried other options for heartworm prevention? Was it effective? Let me know by leaving a comment below.