Appointments with a pet's veterinarian are usually pricey
but I had a case of sticker shock during my dog's last visit. It was time to buy some more heartworm
preventative. Because of a shortage of Interceptor,
a drug commonly used to prevent heartworm that costs about $60 for a six-month
supply, the vet prescribed Trifexis at a cost of $100 for a six-month supply.
Yikes! While I think
it's important to keep my dog protected, I'd like to have enough money left in
the pet budget to buy her some food. My
father pointed out an economical alternative that my uncle has been using for
years.
What is Heartworm?
Heartworm, also known as Dirofilaria immitis, is a
devastating parasitic roundworm that is spread by mosquito bites. It can infect dogs, cats, wolves, coyotes,
foxes, and some other animals. The worm
resides in the arteries of the lungs and damages the tissue. Some sedentary dogs show no sign of
damage. Symptoms in moderate to severe
cases include a cough, weight loss, fainting, coughing up blood, and congestive
heart failure.
Dogs should be tested for heartworm infection with a simple
blood test each year because the preventative drugs can do more harm than good
if infection is already present.
Infected dogs can be treated with an arsenic-based compound called
Immiticide.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm infection can be prevented by administering a form
of ivermectin when the temperature is over 57° F. There are many products marketed in a monthly
pill form. Six- and 12-month injectable
forms are also being studied.
The available treatments must be prescribed by a
veterinarian. While they are 99% effective
when administered according to the instructions, they are pricey.
Ivomec
Ivomec is ivermectin available in an injectable form for
cattle and swine. Dogs can take this
version of the drug orally, either with a needle-less syringe or squirted on a
piece of food. The recommended monthly
dosage is 0.0015 to 0.0030 mg per pound.
There are pros and cons to every choice.
- Cost - Ivomec
costs about $40 for a 50mL bottle that can last for a long time. My 50 pound dog could get 83 doses from one
bottle. The same number of doses of Interceptor
cost about $830.
- Treatment - Ivomec can prevent heartworm, treat
skin and intestinal parasites, and treat mange. Other forms of heartworm prevention, like Trifexis, also kill fleas.
- Side Effects - As with many drugs, Ivomec has
side effects including stumbling blindness, vomiting, diarrhea, and
weakness. The side effects of
Interceptor are similar: depression,
drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, seizures, and weakness.
So is Ivomec right for your dog? It's still important to have your dog tested
for heartworm before dispensing the drug.
It's a good idea to talk to your vet about heartworm prevention
options. Most forms (including Ivomec)
are intended to be administered monthly and the drugs can only help if they are
administered correctly.
Editor's Note: This blog entry is based on the author's
personal experience and is not a recommendation for treatment. Talk to your own veterinarian before starting
or changing a heartworm prevention plan.
Resources
Vetinfo - Ivomec for Dogs
Wikipedia - Dirofilaria immitis
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