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heartworm meds in the mountain west

agesilaus
Explorer II
Explorer II
Both of our dogs are on heartworm meds, no surprise given that we are from Florida. But we are on the road now in Colorado and have been advised that local vets council against giving that med up here.

Anyone have some advice for us?
Arctic Fox 25Y Travel Trailer
2018 RAM 2500 6.7L 4WD shortbed
Straightline dual cam hitch
400W Solar with Victron controller
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11 REPLIES 11

ReneeG
Explorer
Explorer
dturm wrote:
ReneeG wrote:
Our dogs are not on heartworm meds and never have been. They get annual checkups and more if needed, have never had a problem.


You have been lucky.

American Heartworm Society wrote:
KEY POINTS:
EPIDEMIOLOGY
โ€ข Heartworm infection has been diagnosed
in all 50 states and around the globe.
โ€ข Environmental and climatic changes,
both natural and those created by
humans, relocation of microfilaremic
dogs, and expansion of the territories of
microfilaremic wild canids continue to be
important factors contributing to further
spread of the parasite.
โ€ข A pivotal prerequisite for heartworm
transmission is a climate that provides
adequate temperature and humidity to
support a viable mosquito population, and
can also sustain sufficient heat to allow
maturation of ingested microfilariae into
infective, third-stage larvae (L3) within the
intermediate host.
โ€ข The length of the heartworm transmission
season in the temperate latitudes also
depends on factors such as the influence
of microclimates, unique biological habits
and adaptations of the mosquito vector,
variations in time of larval development,
mosquito life expectancy, and temperature
fluctuations.
โ€ข Heartworm transmission does decrease
in winter months, but the presence
of microenvironments in urban areas
suggests that the risk of heartworm
transmission never reaches zero.


American Heartworm Society Guidelines


Maybe, but when I say "our dogs", I meant 7 total acquired between 1997 to the present.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL, 2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3, 1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica, Mabel, and Melton

dturm
Moderator
Moderator
ReneeG wrote:
Our dogs are not on heartworm meds and never have been. They get annual checkups and more if needed, have never had a problem.


You have been lucky.

American Heartworm Society wrote:
KEY POINTS:
EPIDEMIOLOGY
โ€ข Heartworm infection has been diagnosed
in all 50 states and around the globe.
โ€ข Environmental and climatic changes,
both natural and those created by
humans, relocation of microfilaremic
dogs, and expansion of the territories of
microfilaremic wild canids continue to be
important factors contributing to further
spread of the parasite.
โ€ข A pivotal prerequisite for heartworm
transmission is a climate that provides
adequate temperature and humidity to
support a viable mosquito population, and
can also sustain sufficient heat to allow
maturation of ingested microfilariae into
infective, third-stage larvae (L3) within the
intermediate host.
โ€ข The length of the heartworm transmission
season in the temperate latitudes also
depends on factors such as the influence
of microclimates, unique biological habits
and adaptations of the mosquito vector,
variations in time of larval development,
mosquito life expectancy, and temperature
fluctuations.
โ€ข Heartworm transmission does decrease
in winter months, but the presence
of microenvironments in urban areas
suggests that the risk of heartworm
transmission never reaches zero.


American Heartworm Society Guidelines
Doug & Sandy
Kaylee
Winnie 6 1/2 year old golden
2008 Southwind 2009 Honda CRV

ReneeG
Explorer
Explorer
Our dogs are not on heartworm meds and never have been. They get annual checkups and more if needed, have never had a problem.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL, 2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3, 1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica, Mabel, and Melton

dturm
Moderator
Moderator
The recommendation to only give heartworm medication for summer months is about 40 years out of date. All reputable sources recommend giving heartworm medications all year around in all of the US.

Doug, DVM
Doug & Sandy
Kaylee
Winnie 6 1/2 year old golden
2008 Southwind 2009 Honda CRV

stickdog
Explorer
Explorer
Our present boy Auggy hates taking pills or medicine of any kind. Vet suggested a 6 month shot for heartworm.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
FULLTIME SINCE 2010
17 DRV MS 36rssb3
17 F350 King Ranch CC DRW 4x4 6.7 4:10 B&W hitch
John
โ€œA good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.โ€ Lao Tzu

gwalter
Explorer III
Explorer III
Our dogs are on them year round.
2010 Ram 3500 Laramie
2021 Bighorn 3120 RK
B & W Companion Hitch
Air Bags





Nv_Guy
Explorer III
Explorer III
Even here is relatively dry, darn near mosquito free Nor NV our vet recommends heartworm preventative, especially if we are traveling.

BCSnob
Explorer
Explorer
Dog importation and changes in heartworm prevalence in Colorado 2013โ€“2017
Veterinarians in Colorado should no longer base heartworm testing and prevention recommendations on only historic heartworm risks and prevalence. Heartworm prevalence in Colorado rose 67.5% from 2013โ€“2017.


Importation of dogs from heartworm prevalent areas (dogs rescued during hurricane Katrina and adopted in CO) provided a reservoir for the disease that local mosquitoes can then transmit to other dogs.

Keep your dogs on heartworm preventative. Show local vets who question you the linked study and:

2019 Heartworm Incidence Maps
Mark & Renee
Working Border Collies: Nell (retired), Tally (retired), Grant (semi retired), Lee, Fern & Hattie
Duke & Penny (Anatolians) home guarding the flock
2001 Chevy Express 2500 Cargo (rolling kennel)
2007 Nash 22M

LadyRVer
Explorer
Explorer
Wonder why? I am from FL also and my pup is on meds 12 months a year. I traveled out west last year and no vet suggested I take him off. Get to back to FL and if they have missed a month, my vet would do a blood test before giving me more.

Son_of_Norway
Explorer
Explorer
The vets we go to recommend heartworm tablets and we give them to our dog year round. There is some disagreement between different vets as to whether they are needed all year or if they should just be given in the summer. Because of the warming climate, our vet recommends that they take them all year.
Miles and Darcey
1989 Holiday Rambler Crown Imperial
Denver, CO

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
What was the source of the local vet advice?
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad