Our pets take wonderful care of us; they give us love, company, warmth and even physical activity to contribute to a improved quality of life for us. Isn't it only fair that we do the same for them? Heartworm is one of the most devastating illnesses that a dog can get, but that is only if it is not properly treated. Heartgard is one of the most prominent forms of treatment for heartworm disease, perhaps due to the fact that it is nearly always effective. It can eliminate the worms that infect your dog's heart and save it's life, so needless to say Heartgard is an important part of any canine's heath regimen. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous. Those who don't know how to administer Heartgard to their dog can unintentionally cause an overdose of this medication and if not taken care of, an overdose of Heartgard can be lethal to your canine pal.
How Can a Dog Get an Overdose?
A dog can get an overdose of Heartgard in a variety of ways, but normally your administration will result in the overdose. Furthermore, sometimes greedy dogs will get into the box and eat them and if they do that, they normally eat them all. In this context, you want to make sure that you always have it completely out of the reach of your pet for their own good. It could be the difference between life and death!
What Happens During an Overdose of Heartgard?
The thing about Heartgard is that if your dog is already affected, you have to take another route to treatment. Heartgard is about prevention, not treatment so if you think your dog could be infected it is important to seek a vet beforehand. If you administer Heartgard and you think that your dog might be infected, there are some ways of being able to confirm. If your dog appears or acts dizzy and stumbles about, or is acting like he or she cannot see and knocking into things, that is one indication of an overdose. Furthermore, if your dog is weaker than normal or is vomiting or shaking excessively, that is another indication of a Heartgard overdose. Without doubt, fainting is another indication, but hopefully your pet's overdose won't go that far.
How to Treat an Overdose of Heartgard
The only way that you can treat an overdose of Heartgard is to take your pet to the vet. There is nothing that you can do from home and if you notice strange behavior and find that it is due to an overdose of Heartgard it is important to act promptly. Without doubt, an ounce of prevention is preferred in this context. Not keeping it in the house or putting it away from your pets is a wonderful way of avoiding this from happening at all. Sure, your dog doesn't know better than to overdose on Heartgard, but you do know better.
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Natalie Williams is the author of
WormsInMyPet.com. Visit her web site for more tips on getting rid of worms and preventing worms in your pet.
