How to Prevent Canine Heartworm

Posted on September 22nd, 2007 in Prevention by heartgard

Most worm infections come from the soil. These worm infections are transmitted from the soil to the host because of improper hygiene. Canine heartworm is different from these worm infections because it is not transmitted from the soil to the host through ingestion. Canine heartworm is transmitted from an infected dog to a healthy dog through a mosquito bite.

Not only humans can be infected with diseases if bitten by mosquitoes. This can also happen with dogs. Which is why, we should also take precautions so that canine heartworms or any type of worms will not infect dogs. Here are some things that you can do to prevent canine heartworm infection in your dog.

Know when the local mosquito season is. Give your dog extra attention during the mosquito season to prevent and detect infection with canine heartworm.

Don’t let your dog sleep outside the house without sufficient protection from mosquito bites. Almost anything in the dark attracts mosquitoes. In order to prevent canine heartworm, never let your dog sleep in the dark. Also, provide proper shelter for your dog when he stays outside the house to prevent canine heartworm infection.

Remove possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes from your home or your yard. Your dog probably likes to run around the yard. Make sure that mosquitoes don’t dwell in stagnant waters or near the plants where your dog likes to play. Staying near mosquito breeding grounds makes your dog more prone to canine heartworm parasites.

If you suspected that your dog was bitten by mosquitoes or you are aware that it is the local mosquito season, consult your dog’s veterinarian so that he can determine if your dog is already a host of canine heartworm. If your dog is already a host, the veterinarian can recommend the necessary treatment for the infection.

On the other hand, if your dog doesn’t have canine heartworm, the veterinarian can prescribe preventative drugs in order to protect your dog from canine heartworm infection.

One of these preventative or prophylactic drugs is Ivermectin. It is known by its brand name Heartgard. Ivermectin is available in a chewable tablet form, which will make it easier for your dog to take the medication. When your dog is under Ivermectin medication to prevent canine heartworm, you have to administer the correct dose and administer it on time.

Ivermectin has to be administered every thirty days for one year in order to completely eradicate or prevent canine heartworm infection.

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Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Preventive Tips

Posted on September 16th, 2007 in Prevention by heartgard

We love our dogs. So we always want to know what else is good for them. Here are some flea, tick, and heartworm preventive must tips for dog lovers if they want their household pet always alive and kicking.

Be careful where pet dogs go. This is a basic flea, tick, and heartworm preventive tip. Pet dogs often love to haunt a particular place in the house or in the yard. Make sure to know where these places are. Make sure to clean these places always for a flea, tick, and heartworm preventive measure. Cleanliness is the first rule.

Make sure these places also receive a good dose of antiseptic cleaning (make sure all the antiseptic chemicals are thoroughly washed off after) and a bombardment of anti flea and tick powder. There are organic anti flea and tick powders that will not harm both pets and humans, and so with disinfecting materials. This is a recommendable flea, tick, and heartworm preventive option.

Next, watch who they play with. Pests and parasites often get to a household pet through other pets they play with. Contact with other pets that are not well kept is often the culprit in infestations. When pet dogs are walked in parks, it is inevitable sometimes that they make contact with other dogs. Dogs, too, need socialization with their own kind. So a good flea, tack, and heartworm preventive tip is to watch who the pets play or get in contact with. And the best flea, ticks, and heartworm preventive is to act before something bad happens. Have the pets immunized, vaccinated, or powdered with the best anti flea, tick, and heartworm preventive formulation before we let them roam outdoors.

We cannot opt to keep our household dogs indoors all the time. Dogs need to exercise, too. If kept indoors, they tend to grow frail and lazy. And keeping them indoors is no guaranty for safety and health for them. Even mosquito bites can do them harm—like giving them heartworm diseases. The best flea, tick, and heartworm preventive option is to keep them guarded at all times. Give them flea, tick, and heartworm preventive treatments, regularly. Consult a licensed veteran for this program.

It always pays to have a regular overall flea, tick, and heartworm preventive measure for our dogs. It will keep them healthy and happy, enjoying our company and our children’s, without any pest infestation hassles. Remember, an ounce of prevention is better than any cure.

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