First Vet Visit...

[luvhowell]

We had our first Vet visit. Chinook is in good health but one of his testicles did not drop . The Vet said that it does happen and that when I get him fixed it will be more like a females because they have to go inside to retrieve it. I asked him if there was any chance that it would drop when he gets a little older and he said no, if it hadn't dropped by now it won't (he is about 4m. old).

He also recommended a hear worm medicine. When I consulted my parents and friends they said that they never had put thier animals on it and they had always been fine.

Is it necessary or just a ploy to spend more $$ ??

Any advice?

Oh, by the way he wieghs 26lbs. what a porker!

[Moo]

Heartworm medication would depend on where you live, and other factors. Is heartworm common in your area, and to the breed?

Mine is one monthly heartworm & parasite preventative.

[luvhowell]

I don't think that it is prominent here, and my parents never used it on any of thier Sibes and the my book didn't mention them being at high risk.

The treatment he mentioned was monthly....it wasn't that expensive I just don't want to subject him to pills/shots/medicine if he doesn't really need it.

On the other hand if it will keep him healthy and it is a good idea I am all for it!

[GermanShepherds]

Heartworms is deadly. Plus its a pain in the *** to fix and thats IF you have the money to spend on the wild treatments.

2 out of 6 of my dogs have it. That was a wake up call and so we give the ones who dont have it, heart worm medication every month.

Is it worth Chinooks life? Only 20 dollars a month. And you only have 1 dog where as we have 4 to give each month (80.00 a month 960.00 a year)

I personally wouldnt risk it.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by luvhowell

We had our first Vet visit. Chinook is in good health but one of his testicles did not drop . The Vet said that it does happen and that when I get him fixed it will be more like a females because they have to go inside to retrieve it. I asked him if there was any chance that it would drop when he gets a little older and he said no, if it hadn't dropped by now it won't (he is about 4m. old).

He also recommended a hear worm medicine. When I consulted my parents and friends they said that they never had put thier animals on it and they had always been fine.

Is it necessary or just a ploy to spend more $$ ??

Any advice?

Oh, by the way he wieghs 26lbs. what a porker!

I'm assuming you meant Heartworm medication. This medicine is extremely important. Heartworm is rampant in nearly every state now and it is a killer.

My Poodle had the same thing with the one testicle that didn't drop. Not that big a deal; vet took care of it during neutering.

[Becky]

Heartworm is a problem in cali, when I lived there and worked in a vets office we saw may dogs come in who tested positive for it. I wouldn't risk it. The cure for it can be as deadly as the disease.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Do I have to worry about heartworm infection in my dog in Southern California?
There were 30 reported cases of canine heartworm infection in Orange County in 2001. One study (done in 1996-1998) reported an incidence of infection in 1 in every 250 dogs in LA County; the incidence of heartworm in Southern California has been increasing steadily each year. The same study found that travel out of LA County was not necessary for infection. Even more striking was that the study reported that 50% of the infected dogs were described by their owners to be "always indoors." The bottom line is that heartworm is present in Southern California and even mostly indoor dogs are at risk of becoming infested.

I found this on the internet and the data is 5 years old. Who knows how high the numbers are now. Don't risk it.

[SkootiesMama]

My dog had a testicle that didn't drop either, but it ended up dropping at about 5-6 months just before he got fixed. It's a pretty easy surgery, it just will probably cost you abit more to get him neutered.
As for heartworm, I've heard it's really deadly, but we don't have a problem with it up where I live.