Heartgard Plus 驅蟲療程的副作用

May 13, 2014 • simone

Heartgard Plus 驅蟲療程的副作用

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「預防勝於治療」這句老話，用在寵物及其驅蟲治療上再貼切不過，也格外重要。蛔蟲、鉤蟲和心絲蟲可輕易經由蚊子或糞便傳播，因此常會影響我們的寵物。若未及時治療，蟲體會擴散並持續生長，為寵物的腸道和呼吸系統帶來嚴重併發症。寄生蟲感染可能導致嚴重消化問題、心臟衰竭，甚至造成寵物死亡。 

寄生蟲也可能傳染給人類，因此制定有效的驅蟲照護計畫至關重要。 必須定期進行感染防護。幸好，Heartgard Plus 是每月一次、易於餵食、相當安全且經證實有效的驅蟲治療方式。它可防止蟲體發育至危險的成蟲階段，適用於 狗狗和貓咪。 

幾乎每隻幼犬或狗狗都有可能接觸過寄生蟲。 幼犬在 12 週齡前需要每兩週驅蟲一次，哺乳中的母犬也應接受治療。超過 12 週齡的狗狗，往後一生都需要頻繁接受治療。 

Heartgard Plus 依不同體重的動物提供不同劑量。產品為可咀嚼且美味的錠劑（至少據我觀察是如此）。此劑型設計為咀嚼服用，而非整顆吞下；如有需要，您隨時可將其剝碎後拌入寵物食物中。請務必確認寵物吃完整個劑量，因此在餵食期間及短暫的餵食後都應觀察牠們。

開始任何心絲蟲治療前，務必先諮詢獸醫。這不僅是為了確認正確劑量，也因為已感染心絲蟲的動物在使用心絲蟲藥物後，可能出現類似中毒性休克的嚴重反應。您的狗狗需要先接受檢測；若已感染，應先治療成蟲及幼蟲（微絲蟲），再開始任何驅蟲療程。

如果您現在正愉快地享用一頓美食，建議先把餐點放到一旁，因為接下來我們要仔細認識這些可怕又討厭的小蟲。

蛔蟲
蛔蟲（ascarids）是最常影響狗狗與貓咪的寄生蟲。 幾乎每隻幼犬出生時便會感染蛔蟲，或經由母乳受到感染。 

成蟲存在於腸道中，寬度可達 2-3mm、長度最長可達 20cm。蛔蟲會造成腹瀉、嘔吐、體重減輕、發育不良、腹部膨大及精神不振。若未治療或情況嚴重，可能引發肺炎，以及腸道或消化系統阻塞。

受感染動物體內的成蟲會產卵，蟲卵隨後經由糞便排出。其他動物若吞食受污染的土壤，或吃下老鼠、囓齒類或鳥類等其他受感染動物，便可能受到感染。蟲卵接著會在動物胃中孵化，取食胃內物質並發育為可產卵的成蟲。蛔蟲幼蟲和成蟲也可能存在於肝臟和肺部等其他器官，但通常仍留在消化系統中。 

鉤蟲
鉤蟲是另一種腸道寄生蟲，最常影響幼犬和幼貓。蟲體會附著在宿主動物的腸道內壁，吸食血液、組織和體液。如同蛔蟲，幼蟲及會產卵的成蟲都生活在腸道中。有些幼蟲會附著於其他器官；若牠們經由呼吸系統遷移，可能會為寵物帶來特別嚴重的問題。 

鉤蟲卵會隨動物糞便排出。狗狗和貓咪可能因吞食受污染的土壤，或幼蟲穿透皮膚而感染。幼犬也可能經由母乳感染。

 

血便是鉤蟲感染的常見症狀。其他感染徵兆包括腸胃不適、牙齦蒼白、體重減輕、發育遲緩及毛髮狀況不佳。大量蟲體寄生或幼犬感染時，可能造成嚴重失血和貧血；極端情況下甚至可能致死。

心絲蟲
心絲蟲是所有寄生蟲中致命性最高的一種。雖然狗狗較常感染，貓咪同樣容易受到影響。蟲體寄生於動物的肺部、心臟及肺動脈，可能造成心臟衰竭或死亡。 幼犬最晚應於 12 週齡開始進行心絲蟲預防。 

心絲蟲主要影響肺部，但心臟、循環系統，甚至肝臟和腎臟也可能受損。心絲蟲感染的症狀包括咳嗽、呼吸急促、呼吸異音、昏厥、精神不振、體重減輕、唾液或黏液中帶血、腹部腫脹、嘔吐及食慾不振。

心絲蟲由蚊子傳播；當受感染的蚊子叮咬另一隻動物時，心絲蟲幼蟲（微絲蟲）便會被傳入體內。這些幼蟲會穿過組織與宿主動物的循環系統，移往肺部、心臟及肺動脈，吸食血液並成長至成熟；有些蟲體可長達 30cm、寬達 2cm。心絲蟲幼蟲可在宿主動物的血液中存活兩年。 

心絲蟲會導致組織發炎、血液凝結及血管壁增厚。動物的血壓會升高，心臟負擔也隨之增加。 

若狗狗已感染心絲蟲卻接受預防藥物治療，可能產生非常嚴重的副作用。

副作用
如同任何藥物，都可能出現不適副作用，且有些寵物可能有個別敏感性。不過，測試顯示，在正確使用下， Heartgard Plus 安全且耐受性良好，消化系統和神經系統副作用的發生率極低。 

Heartgard Plus 含有伊維菌素，可使寄生蟲麻痺並死亡。Heartgard 所含的伊維菌素劑量相對較低，出現副作用的風險也很小。如前所述，在確認寵物是否感染心絲蟲之前，切勿開始驅蟲計畫。 

請確認寵物所需的劑量，因為嚴重副作用往往是由於使用的劑量高於建議劑量所致。若給予的劑量正確，但您發現以下任何副作用，請立即帶寵物前往獸醫處就診。

  • 消化問題。與 Heartgard Plus 相關最常見的副作用是噁心、嘔吐及腹瀉等消化問題。在臨床實地試驗中，僅有 1.1% 的案例在給藥後 24 小時內出現嘔吐或腹瀉。
  • 流口水過多
  • 憂鬱及精神不振。 有些寵物曾出現憂鬱、精神不振、食慾不佳及對活動失去興趣的情況。
  • 協調性不足（共濟失調）、方向感混亂及後腿癱瘓
  • 可能出現步履蹣跚、撞到牆壁和家具，或癱瘓的情況。
  • 瞳孔放大（散瞳）或失明
  • 哭叫、躁動
  • 體溫過低及低體溫症
  • 癲癇發作及肌肉顫抖。癲癇發作、顫抖及抽搐非常罕見，可能表示您的寵物對藥物特別敏感、劑量過高，或原本已感染心絲蟲。 

易感品種
某些犬種的多重抗藥性基因（MDR1）帶有突變，使牠們在極高劑量的伊維菌素下更為敏感（為建議劑量的 16 倍）。試驗中，狗狗在使用 Heartgard 建議劑量的十倍時，未觀察到不良反應。

已知此基因突變最常見於牧羊犬、澳洲牧羊犬、喜樂蒂牧羊犬及長毛惠比特犬等品種。 用於預防心絲蟲的伊維菌素劑量通常安全且偏低，適合這些狗狗使用。您可以向獸醫諮詢 為狗狗檢測此基因突變的事宜。

只要遵照劑量及治療 說明， Heartgard Plus 就是安全 有效的驅蟲照護方案。它已核准用於年僅 6 週的動物，以及懷孕或哺乳中的貓狗。每月餵給寵物一顆可咀嚼的美味錠劑，就能輕鬆完成給藥。包裝上也附有月曆，讓您不會忘記目前的用藥進度。安心照護從未如此簡單。 

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留言(29)

  1. Melody

    Our dog was positive on his heartworm test but they gave him prednisone an muscle relaxers plus heartguard....we thought he was dying lastnight because all he did was lay there eyes were dialated and he would cough and had this mucous and foam type drooling....we thought he would die during night for sure but today he is getting up some an nodrool.....happening.....he reallying scared us???????????????

  2. Sheree' Welch

    My dog Molly was treated for heartworms in July last year & was heartworm free at her 6 month check up. As suggested, I've continued to give her heartguard monthly. However, for the past 2 minths, I've noticed her coughing the day after it's given & the cough lasts a day or two. Suggestions?

  3. Shirley

    Might gave my 8 year old dog heartguard plus this morning. Tonight her back legs are not working. Is there anything I can do for her right now and will this pass

  4. Marcy

    Did your dog get better? I gave two of my dogs ther Heartguard Plus last night. One is perfectly fine the other is having trouble with her back legs. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain and she will get up to go to go outside however she struggles with getting her back legs to walk.

  5. Natalie Wood

    My dogs hind legs are having problems too. How are yalls dogs now?

  6. Jody Creighton

    I gave my Lab/Basset her Heartguard dose Sunday and since the following Tuesday her back left leg has hurt her. I’ve been researching hip dysphasia symptoms and joint pain in senior dogs but thought I’d check to see if MAYBE any other dogs had leg pain after their heart worm meds and found this thread. Did your dogs leg issues clear up?

  7. Jody

    Did your dogs leg issues get better? I gave all 4 of mine Heartguard Sunday and Tuesday one of my dogs started having back leg pain. She still seems like it’s bothering her.

  8. Troy

    I have a 2 year old shepherd we adopted. They agency said she was Heartworm free. We did a Heartworm test after we had her and we had been giving heart heart guard( I have a lab too which has been on Heartgard no issue) she was diagnosed last year with micro flare and we started the slow kill treatment with heart guard plus. Last year she had a spell we’re she just payed down and like she passed out. We rushed her to dr and they gave her a Benadryl and she was fine in about and hour. This was during the slow kill treatment. We had her tested last year after the slow kill and test showed Heartworm free. She had another spell 3 weeks ago and it was worse. I picked her up and carried her to Dr and she just payed there with trashy clinches. He ran blood work ( liver enzymes a little escalated) and exrays and everything was normal. He felt she had a seizure. He told us to bring her back (today) and he tested her again and liver was fine. He did test for Heartworm again and now she is back micro flare positive, not sure how we should proceed?
    HELP!!!!!

  9. Katy

    Hi,
    I am not an expert but I am a breeder. I have lost a breeding dog with HeartGard before, and my other dogs have had serious side effects, vomiting every day, and constantly being tired and depressed. It took about a week for them to heal. I did some research and it is because they're pesticides that some dogs can't handle. Most dogs can handle it with only minor side effects, but others have very serious side effects, and, in some cases, death. I have even had some clients who told me they lost their dog to this medecine. (HeartGard) The best solution is to avoid HeartGard and other pesticide medicines. Always go for the organic and natural ones!
    Hope your dog(s) feels better soon!

  10. Sharon

    My mixed breed adopted pup, 16 months old, had an issue back in the early winter with her hind legs to the point she ended up on steroids. During the rest of the winter I was a slacker when it came to giving the Heartgard Plus and her leg pain had resolved. I restarted the med on Saturday and Saturday evening she was limping so badly I had to help her into the bed. (She acted like her knee was painful). By Sunday morning she was barely limping, but even today the limp is still noticeable. I'm starting to wonder if there is a correlation.

  11. Sharon

    I gave My mixed breed adopted pup, 16 months old, had an issue back in the early winter with her hind legs to the point she ended up on steroids. During the rest of the winter I was a slacker when it came to giving the Heartgard Plus and her leg pain had resolved. I restarted the med on Saturday and Saturday evening she was limping so badly I had to help her into the bed. (She acted like her knee was painful). By Sunday morning she was barely limping, but even today the limp is still noticeable. I'm starting to wonder if there is a correlation.

  12. Steve

    My dog has the same issues. Everytime we give him heartgard plus he coughs for the next several days.

  13. Carla

    My German Shepherd has the Heartgard injection on Thursday, by Saturday night he could use his back legs. Still unable to stand this morning (Sun). Will it get better? How long dies it take?

  14. Nicole

    I gave my dog heart guard..I thought it was something else then again and same thing shaking leg pain ..I think it's the heart guard cause see the comments..how long does it last

  15. Arlene

    I gave my 8 week old puppy 1st dose of heartguard and had seizures the same day. I saw that convulsions can be a side effect. Brought her to the vet and liver enzymes were ok but still having seizure 1-2 x a day. Gave the medicine Dec 15. Vet said it’s just a coincidence because the med is safe for puppies. I’m worried. Help!

  16. Angela Cote

    I’ve given my dog Heartgard for over 4 years without issue but this month she has an episode where she lost control over her limbs and she was scared! She couldn’t walk and was trembling! A couple hours later she was totally fine. I can’t help but wonder if it was the Heartgard?

  17. Pat Wester

    My miniature schnauzer started having trembling in his back legs about a year ago. In June, 2020 he had an episode of stumbling and loosing control of his hind legs. I've had him to the vet and we've gone through a ton of tests including a consult with a neurologist and nothing. His last episode was in Nov. I have always taken him off Heartgard and Frontline during the cold months. It's been 14 weeks since he had an episode of problems in his back legs. I started researching the effects of Heartgard and Frontline and have become concerned that these drugs are the cause of his problems. He's 12 1/2 yrs. old. I'm not going to put him back on either of those drugs.

  18. Richard Coughlin

    Gave my lab heart guard plus ever since it’s had digest promblems

  19. Terry

    Did your dog get better with appetite and how long did it take?

  20. Kristi Burton

    3 outta my 4 dogs that have been giving heartgard had episodes of vomiting and diarrhea 2 to 3 days after each dosage. Living in Louisiana it is hard not to give preventative even though my dogs are inside dogs. But it has been 5 days since I gave another dose and now my french bulldog is having leg tremors and is very lethargic. I usually have healthy, happy dogs unless it is the mosquito time of the year. Everyone might as well spray the yard with pesticides instead of giving it as a treat, What is the difference? Heart worms will kill a dog but we need a better preventative solution. I DONT WANT MY DOG TO SUFFER from a medication or a parasite. I know this is why my dogs are acting this way because there is no other explanation. I gave my 2 boys imodium for 2 days and the diarrhea finally stopped, but had to use the adult pill the children's imodium did nothing. As for my girl, she is resting because I gave her a pain pill. Only thing I can do is wait for this stuff get out of their system and don't give it again. Off to the vet in the morning. Good luck everyone.

  21. Mon

    Our coonhound is allergic to one of the ingredients in heartguard and had terrible diarrhea after each dose. We've switched to interceptor and no more issues. Doesn't taste as good, but a little peanut butter does the trick.

  22. Kristi Burton

    thank you, we will try that.

  23. Lyss

    Do 8 week old puppies need heartgard? I thought they get dewormed at a very early age.

  24. Al Bendorf

    Gave my chiweenie Heartgard, had bruising, platelet count went down to 8K. After discontinuing, platelets back up to 200K. Dangerous medication!!

  25. Barb

    My lab is on heart guard plus year round. Does she need to be dewormed also

  26. sinan

    Yes, you need a dewormer like Drontal for intestinal worms.

  27. Robin

    My golden retriever is so tried after taking heartgard plus. How long will this last?
    He is 8

  28. Anonymous

    Same exact thing is happening with my pomeranian. Such a happy dog until I gave him heartgard. I'm suing. Contact me. (Email removed. We can not publish email addresses.)

  29. Amanda Dalton

    Thank you, I'm currently in the vet with a very sick baby 2 days after heartgaurd they keep telling me it couldn't be the heartgaurd. But she is having bloody stool so bad she needs IV and throwing up

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