Heart Guard?? So confused!!

Puppy Join date : 2013-02-09

Kiya is now a little over 11 weeks old. The breeder I got her from, had a mix of different things she gave to her for worming her. After I took her to the vet, I decided it would be easier for me to just give her a Heart guard chewable once a month, and the vet agreed. But when I just went to order it from dr. foster and smith, it is telling me I can't order it without a prescription. So what do you all use for your worming meds?

Maverick Join date : 2011-07-01 Location : Denver, CO

Heartguard is prescription only, I'm surprised your vet didn't tell you that. They probably carry it at their office, since it's so important to be on heartworm preventatives. We use Trifexis, which is fleas, ticks, intestinal worms, and heartworms all in one, and that is prescription only as well.

_________________
Shadow's Blog

Canine Hydrocephalus Support on Facebook

"Being the parent of a special-needs pet means living your life constantly poised on the edge of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you become a fierce defender of the ways in which your little one is perfectly ordinary — all the things he or she can do that are just like what everybody else does. And yet, you never lose sight of how absolutely extraordinary that very ordinariness is, how difficult, remarkable and rewarding that fight to be 'just like everybody else' has been." -Gwen Cooper, "Homer's Odyssey"

Shadow - 03/01/2013 - 10/02/2014

Heart Guard?? So confused!! 85ced801-eef9-49ab-a499-d82fe0067cd7_zps64d8039a

Heart Guard?? So confused!! 85ced801-eef9-49ab-a499-d82fe0067cd7_zps64d8039a

Puppy Join date : 2013-03-04 Location : Florida

If you want to purchase Heartguard from Dr.F&S you'll need your vet to send them your prescription information. Trifexsis is a great product, though it doesn't do anything about ticks. Sadly my boy Darwin stomach can't stand the active flea ingredient in it, it causes him to typically puke not long after taking the pill Sad

Senior Join date : 2011-08-07 Location : Michigan

Are you giving it with food?

darbear wrote:: If you want to purchase Heartguard from Dr.F&S you'll need your vet to send them your prescription information. Trifexsis is a great product, though it doesn't do anything about ticks. Sadly my boy Darwin stomach can't stand the active flea ingredient in it, it causes him to typically puke not long after taking the pill

Subject: Re: Heart Guard?? So confused!! Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:07 am

As has been said, heartworm products are prescription only. Alicia, you can call your vet and provide them with the phone number and/or fax number for the Drs. Foster & Smith pharmacy and the vet can either call in or fax the prescription for you.

I have ordered heartworm pills from Drs FosterSmith pharmacy (years ago) and I printed out the form from their website that you take to your vet before the appointment and filled in all my information beforehand. That way all my vet had to do was fill in the info for what the prescription was for and fax it in. Never had any trouble with it.

_________________
Heart Guard?? So confused!! Summer10

Puppy Join date : 2013-03-04 Location : Florida

Yes it is with food. He's always had a super sensitive stomach, but even with the blandest food I can find, I have to watch him like a hawk to make sure that he's held it down for at least an hour. When I had him just on comfortis it wasn't that detrimental if he didn't keep it down that long, just maybe not get a month long of flea protection, but with the Trifexsis I always worried about him getting his heartworm protection. He's just now on Heartguard plus and we use topical for flea issues.

Senior Join date : 2013-02-11 Location : NYC

I ordered mine from 1800petmeds. You enter your vets name and its finds the vet in their database, then they contact the vet to sign an approval form, mine gets a fax, then he signs and faxes back. It was about a 3-5 day turnaround from the day I ordered to the delivery day. It was quick and easy.

Senior Join date : 2012-08-02 Location : Louisiana

I use Trifexis and get it from my vet. I looked it up online but you still have to get a prescription from your vet before you can order most of these heartworm meds online / through third party websites.

_________________
Heart Guard?? So confused!! Signat11

Senior Join date : 2013-02-11 Location : NYC

To clarify, mine did require a rx from the vet, but I was able to order it first, then 1800petmeds faxed the rx form to the vet, who signed it and faxed it back.

Senior Join date : 2012-05-02 Location : MD

I've gotten my heartguard plus from Foster and Smith for a few years now, though I switched vets when my lab need knee surgery (to get a second opinion and I liked their game plan better) and they price match Foster and Smith which is nice! Ask if your vet will do that, if not, ask for a prescription! Foster and Smith are way cheaper on heartguard plus then your vet will be.

Puppy Join date : 2013-02-09

Thanks everyone!! Your advice is greatly appreciated!!

Newborn Join date : 2013-02-21 Location : Central Arizona

I'm sure your vet told you this, but it's important that the dog be tested for heartworm prior to getting the meds.

Subject: Re: Heart Guard?? So confused!! Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:29 pm

MattV wrote:: I'm sure your vet told you this, but it's important that the dog be tested for heartworm prior to getting the meds.

Pups 4 months and younger do not need to be tested, they can just be treated. This pup is 11 weeks.

Depending on where you live, testing is either done annually, or every 2 years. I don't live in a HW endemic area of California, so we test every 2 years where I work. If an adult dog misses 4 months of HW dosing in a row, then a HW test would need to be done to continue with the prescription.

Puppy Join date : 2013-02-09

Interesting, I didn't know they didn't have to be tested under four months old! Thanks Smile

Husky Collector Join date : 2009-12-13 Location : South Fl

Since it takes approx 6 months for them to develop into detectable levels... Testing before 6 months of age really is pointless. 9/10 will always be negative.

_________________
Force Free Training Thread
Cheyenne, Mishka, Mickey, Rodeo, & Odin
Heart Guard?? So confused!! 6877191385_f831cf231c

Are you a Husky owner in South Florida?! Join our facebook meetup group!