| We have been using the Proheart injection for over a year now. In that time, had one reaction (vomiting, lethargy that lasted about 12 hours and resolved without treatment) in a dog that had also been vaccinated at the same time.
The primary advantage to the injection, is eliminating the chance of heartworm infection due to human error. There are a number of people who have had their dogs become infected with heartworms (including some on this forum) because they forgot to give one or more pills.
The primary disadvantage, is that the product remains in the body for 6 months, so if the dog has a reaction to it, it may be worse than with a medication that is passed out of the body within 24 hours of administration.
We carry the three types of heartworm prevention (ouch! inventory!) to give our clients a choice that fits their needs. I will go with the pills, or spot-on, rather than the injection, if the dog has ever had an allergic reaction (vaccination, drug, food) before. Or if the dog is elderly and has any health problems. Or if the dog is underweight for any reason. On the other hand, I particularly recommend the injection to clients with a history of missed appointments and lapses in preventative administration. Also very handy for clents who are moving, and have other things to worry about than where the dog's pills are. Our prices for pills and injection are identical.  |