How to choose the right Heart-worm Preventive for my pet?
Choosing the right Heart-worm medication for your pet can be quite confusing. The abundance of information and recommendations your Veterinarian gives you at the time of your dogs wellness visit can be overwhelming. Especially when your pet is acting like a wild Indian it can be quite distracting. But don't worry, Harvey Animal Hospital in Grosse Pointe Michigan is always here to clarify and answer any questions you may have regarding your pets health.
First and foremost lets clarify the basics. The two most frequently asked questions about Heart-worm disease are, What is heart-worm disease? And How does my pet get heart-worm disease?
Heart-worm disease is transmitted by infected mosquito, and is a very serious potentially life threatening disease that is cause by a worm invasion to your pets heart. These worms mature and reproduce causing severe damage to your pets heart function, and will cause the heart to fail. You can learn more about heart-worm disease by visiting https://www.heartwormsociety.org
Now that you know the dangers of heart-worm disease you can rest assured that you CAN prevent this awful disease. Consistently giving a heart-worm preventative will protect your beloved pet and keep them safe from this sickness. Perfect! The next question pet owners will ask is “What type of heart-worm preventative is right for my pet?' There are a number of options out there and this is something that your veterinarian will gladly discuss with you and help you choose what is right for your pet and their lifestyle. Heart-worm medication can come in a variety of ways, a beefy treat chew, a tablet, a topical, etc. Choosing which is best for your pet will depend on a number of variables. First off , will your pet take the edible medication or is applying a little oil on their back easier for the pet owner. Is it best for your pet to have flea protection as well? Is your dog around other dogs where they are at risk for intestinal worms and parasites? Yes most heart-worm medication also contains protection against intestinal parasites as well. For instance, Heart Guard is a beefy chew that not only protects against heart-worm disease but also, hook worms and round worms. While Trifexis is a tablet that protects against heart-worm, fleas, hook worm, round worm and whip worm. An alternative to an edible form is Advantage Multi which covers, heartworm, fleas, hooks, whips, and round worms.
There are many options and discussing your pets risks with your Veterinarian will help you decide on which is right for your pet. You can also compare on the chart below.
The next big misconception is “ Can't I get my pets heart-worm preventative at a pet store or online?” Well yes and no. It is absolutely NOT recommended to purchase heart-worm medications at a pet store or on a generic website. And no its not because your Veterinarian wants to make more money, it is not recommended for the simple fact that the manufactures of these products ONLY sell to Veterinarians. So how did the pet store or generic website get the products? No one knows. It can be counterfeit or fake products and you do not want to risk your pets health by giving these questionable products. A little tip most pet owners don't realize is that the manufactures of these medications will guarantee their product IF and only IF purchased from a veterinarian. Purchasing online is easy and convenient for most people. Most online pharmacies CAN NOT be trusted, and it is not recommended to purchase products for the same reason I gave above, unless its directly though your veterinarian. We at Harvey Animal Hospital recognize the ease of purchasing online and we just launch our very own online pharmacy! This pharmacy is our personal pharmacy portal and therefore it is a trusted source for your pets medications. You can get your pets heart-worm preventive and other medications right to your door. Click the link below:
http://harveyanimalhospital.vetsfirstchoice.com/
Another added benefit from purchasing from your veterinarian whether in clinic or on their personal trusted online pharmacy is the rebates that are offered. There are always rebates and other special offers depending on what type of heart-worm preventative you choose. For example right now if you purchase though our online pharmacy you can get an instant $12 rebate when you buy 12 doses of Heart-Guard and a $5 rebate on 6 doses. Trifexis is currently offering a $25 rebate! So keep your pet safe and protected against the deadly heart-worm diseases and keep your pet on heart-worm preventative. Need a refill of your heart-worm medications? Stay away from pet stores and sketchy online pharmacies. Purchase directly from your vet clinic or their trusted online pharmacy.
