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The Dog Heartworm Shot Was Not Safe
Enough For Common Use
Proheart 6 was the first dog heartworm shot available for
dog owners. However, even though it was used for several years,
there were a lot of worries about whether or not the heartworm shot
was safe. In 2004, the Proheart 6 heartworm shot was taken off the
market and recalled after the FDA made that request of the company
that created the heartworm shot.
There are Proheart 6 pills that are as safe as any other
once-a-month heartworm treatments, but most dog owners choose either
the Interceptor or Sentinel brands of heartworm medications.
The six-month heartworm shot had side effects because of the high
dose that had to be given to your dog. Keep in mind that since
heartworm medications are designed to kill off heartworms or their
larvae, these are toxic in some way. Six months of heartworm
medication at once was too dangerous for some dogs.
Make sure you remember to give your dog the once-monthly medication.
The biggest reason for the six-month dog heartworm shot was that
many dog owners were having trouble remembering to give their dogs
the monthly heartworm dose. This is a very serious type of
medication that you should make sure you remember. Since the
heartworm shot is no longer available, it is even more important to
make sure that you do not forget the doses.
One way that you can make sure you will not forget your dog's
heartworm medication is to choose one of the once-monthly
medications instead of the daily heartworm pills. This makes it easy
to keep up the medication, since you will only have to give the pill
once a month.
The best way to make sure that you will give the medication on the
same day each month is to pick a day on which you have something
else to remember. For instance, you could choose to give the
heartworm medication on the same day that you pay your rent.
You can also set up a monthly reminder, or put a note somewhere that
you will see it every day. (Your refrigerator is a good place to put
a note of this nature, because you will have to open your
refrigerator at least once a day.)
If you have any concerns about heartworm medication or side effects,
make sure that you contact your vet right away.
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