There is a sign in my vets about heartworm and that it is becoming more prevalent and as such dogs need preventative treatment.
Do dogs need preventative treatment and if so can it only be bought on prescription? 
I don't really know much about heartworm other than the info I have gained from watching hours of Animal Cops :)

I think it is picked up from infected slugs/snails and used to be quite rare in the uk but is now on the increase.
I think I am correct in saying as long as your dog doesn't eat snails either on walks or from the garden then he/she should be safe.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon.

Heartworm has become more prevalent and Vets are warning their clients due to the higher rate of occurrence. One of the preventative treatments is worming with Milbemax. In the North West the large animal hospital is seeing more and more cases of it, unfortunately dogs may die from it if left untreated.

ITs actually french heartworm which is different to heartworm. (its actually lungworm). There isn't really any preventative treatment, worming with milbemax helps, but it needs to be done in a differnt regime than normal worming. we had a dog nearly die from it at work, it eventually ended up going to one of the major vets schools for treatment, but had only been treated with milbemax about a month before, but only at the normal worming dose rate.  Advocate is supposed to help too.

The lungworm parasite (also known as the french heartworm) can be picked up from slugs and snails. Be really careful that your dog doesn't pick them up by eating long grass, or from those stuck to their toys.
I noticed mine had this because her breathing sounded 'funny' and she tired more easily, and with a slight cough. She was treated with advocate and some paste (can't remember what it was)  to go on her food
She was fine after a few days but it was caught quickly because I knew she had eaten some snails

Thanks all,

So would people recommend worming him with Milbemax as a precaution?  I have just wormed him a week ago with Drontal so will I need to wait?  I appreciate that it can be fatal but is it recommended to follow this prophylactic method esp as my dog is a grass muncher :)

As some people know, my Alfie went off his back legs about a month ago and he has been treated as a possible lung worm case as it can cause spinal problems due to bleeding - he didn't really show other symptoms except his breathing was a bit 'gurgly' at times. He is making a good recovery although his back end is still a little weak but getting better every day. Alfie was treated with Milbemax - 1 dose every week for four weeks - that is the treatment dosage but as a preventative, I believe it is  one dose per month in high risk areas. I have been told that advocate also works as a lung worm preventative.

Milbemax-comes with a health warning for any herding breed & certainly the dosage should be very carefully monitored with non MDR-1 DNA tested dogs

Our Dogs had an article on this last week.

Hi MM
George is a boxer so hopefully no danger there. 
Are people worming against this regularly then or should I leave it?  I have no idea what to do but George is at the vets on Monday so I can ask them then.
I do not get the dog magazine Polly highlighted, is there a link anywhere so I can see it online or is it subscriber only?

I think once the news is a week old anybody can view it.

My vet recommends "ADVANTAGE"  , for this .

You can onlt get it with a prescription

i didnt look to see if anyone else said this, but 'STONGHOLD' is the best, it is a spot on treatment, like a de-fleaer, it kills and prevents, wont say all but alot of parisites. it is expensive, it all depends on the size of your dog. my vet swares by it and h ehas been a vet for 40+ years.

heartworm is endemic where I now live, so yearly injection for my two I'm afraid :(

Jackbox do you mean ADVOCATE? Advantage is just a flea treatment.

Jackbox do you mean ADVOCATE? Advantage is just a flea treatment.

Sorry, my head is on back to front... yes I do!!!!!!  LoL!!!