If you live in Southern California, do you give your dogs heartworm medication?
We never did growing up because it wasn’t prevalent here and never had a problem. We camp and hike a lot, with an annual summer trip to Oregon and Washington for two weeks. I have NEVER had a dog with heartworm and my vet doesn’t like to give preventative unless it’s absolutely necessary. I never used to worry about it, but our friend’s Cane Corso was recently diagnosed with it. The dog is four years old and has always lived in Southern California. They travel for two months every summer to Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Washington with the dogs so the vet thinks it’s likely that is where the dog picked it up. Now, I’m paranoid. Do you use heartworm preventative if you live in Southern California? I don’t even Frontline my dogs because they react so badly to that but we don’t have a problem because we have an natural spray that works really well if applied once a week and I’m pretty anal about their baths and cleaning their bedding. I would hate to do this if it was unnecessary but I also can’t imagine that my youngest would live through heartworm treatment. I need advice. Thanks!
I would give the dog heartworm preventative no matter where I lived. They can get it anywhere that mosquitos are. One infected mosquitoe bites your dog, they get heartworm and the treatment is way more expensive and painful to the dog than a lifetime of preventative.My dogs love the preventative, its like a treat to them.
No.
I always call a vet in the area I am traveling with my dogs though and find out if heartworm is an issue. I did that just two years ago when I traveled to Nampa, ID. Neither my vet here in So Cal or the vet I called in Nampa felt it was necessary for me to give my dogs heartworm prevention.
Years ago when I traveled to an area with heartworm I did give my dogs the preventative.
Yes I live in San Diego County.
You never could be to safe!
I live in Southern Oregon and we have tons of mosquito’s here. Any where that has mosquito’s is a danger. If you have them in So Cal I would get him on preventative. My dogs are on heart guard which is actually good for your dog. The pills are only about $6 or so each (depends how much your dog weights) per month. That’s a low cost compared to your dog getting it and then all the vet costs after that (if the dog lives). You should at least use it while you are in oregon and washington because we have tons of cases here and tons of mosquito’s. Its better to be safe than sorry!