If you are the owner of an aquarium, then the odds are pretty good that you have realized when it comes to your supplies, the costs can really add up. A quick trip to the local pet store will demonstrate just how much prices for everything from fish food to decorations and gravel has gone up.
Fortunately for the aquarium enthus... Read more
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You need to be careful when choosing which heartworm prevention medication that you give your dog, given the seriousness of a heartworm infestation.
The heartworm prevention medicine put on the market in 2001 called Proheart Six only required that your pet be injected two times within the year. At first, the heartworm prevention was believed to be a safe & easy way to administer care and prevention to pets, however the FDA of the USA intervened when reports of more than 5,000 pets became ill as a reaction from the medicine. Of the 5,000 reported there were 415 fatalities. The results from the investigations conducted by the FDA proved that ProHeart 6 caused a much higher amount of deaths than regular, monthly heartworm medications. The comparison of ProHeart 6 with 138 deaths in one year, was overwhelmingly higher than the six deaths reported yearly from Heartgard heartworm protection and Sentinel. (FDA May 3, 2004) As with most all medications, the possibility of an allergic reaction from the heartworm control is present and could cause death of the pet. According to the FDA (2004), Revolution heartworm protection had reports of an average of 36 annual deaths from over 8,500 reactions. Keep in mind however, that the statistics read higher than Proheart 6, simply because the product has been on the market much longer and has been administered to many more pets. Proheart 6 has actually caused more than three times as many deaths. Revolution is not necessarily unsafe. The high numbers of deaths are partially due to its very widespread use, however you should still educate yourself on the facts. Only 214 negative reactions were caused by Interceptor for canines, which is eight times less than Revolution. Interceptor averages a mere nine deaths per year, compared to ProHeart Six's average of 138. Interceptor heartworm protection had only 84 deaths recorded between 1995 and 2004. Ivermectin is the active ingredient in Heartgard heartworm protection, which led to an average of six deaths and 355 adverse reactions each year. Causing the very least amount of allergic reactions or deaths was Sentinel, a flea, parasite and heartworm protection medication. Statistics show that information gathered in the years of 1999 through 2004 that Sentinel heartworm prevention for dogs resulted in 900 reactions which is an average of 233 as opposed to Revolution heartworm treatment for dogs which had 1,737 reactions with a total of 25 deaths averaging to be 6 annually. Proheart 6 should only be used as a preventative heartworm control for your dog and never be used if a heartworm infection has already presented itself. Your vet may still recommend Proheart 6 as many still believe it to be safe. However other vets only provide the monthly heartworm prevention and treatment option as they feel that it is safer. As of 2007, the heartworm protection medicine was still on the market despite the fact that Proheart 6 was recalled three years before in September of 2004. Of course you want what is best for your pet as it is a family member, not a statistical reading, however these adverse reactions in which you have been informed of are from millions of dogs throughout the world and are considerably low. If you are concerned about your pets health, choosing prevention is the best action for you. Discuss your options with your vet and ask all the questions in which you deem necessary. Heartworms are devastating to any dog and should not be taken the least bit lightly. Choose a monthly dosage of heartworm preventive medicine for your beloved pet so as to provide the best care possible and protect him from any unnecessary pain and suffering.
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