Dog with Heartworm Disease

[JGF25]

I am currently fostering a dog from a rescue that has tested HW positive.  I know they have treated other dogs for HW with the arsenic shots but have not mentioned treating this particular dog, yet anyway.  Does anyone have experience giving your dog Heartguard to stop the juvenile worms and then having your dog outlive the adults?  Is there a test that can actually "stage" the heartworm infection?

[JGF25]

Thank you again to all of you for the information.  The call on this isn't mine...it is the rescue agency that makes it.  I'm just the foster mom :)  Hopefully when they do decide to treat her, it all goes well.  

[DoggieMom328]

yes you would probably be correct on hurrying up the process. its just so much harder on the dog. I actually adopted out a dog that was HW positive to a couple and they knew she was. i supplied them with 6 months of heartgard to get them started after i had treated her with doxy and ivermection (twice) within 6 weeks period. as soon as i administired the second ivermectin dose 2 days later i let her go to them. then you can do follow up checks with their vet to see if they have continued the heartgard. The second round of doxy is to ensure it kills them all. it isnt mandatory to do the second round but it gets them negative alot quicker. i think the time frame on when they become negative depends on how many heartworms they may have had.

[JGF25]

No, she was not treated that long.  She came to the rescue in the late summer and I believe the doxy was for 3 months only.  She was given ivermectin twice as well and then this last time, after doxy pills were gone, she was given heartguard.  I'm going to have to pass this information on.  It could be that because these are rescue dogs and they are awaiting adoption, they don't want to keep a dog in foster care for two years and probably don't feel like a dog is adoptable being HW positive.  I think that any future adopters wouldn't want to take on a dog that has a preexisting health condition.  The shots, although dangerous, are quicker I guess to getting the dog to be HW negative and then adoptable.  

[LindaTX]

Our dog was treated monthly after the diagnosis for HW and he tested negative after 2 yrs on Heartgard.  He is coughing but is on Enalapril, Vetmedin, lasix.  His cough has improved after this newest regimen.  He is 11 yrs old.  Good luck to you!

[DoggieMom328]

How long has she been getting the ivermectin and doxy? It CAN take up to around 18 months even though i have heard 24 months. but definitely no longer than that. i would give it atleast 1 yr to become negative but 18 months is the normal time frame.

[JGF25]

She has done the doxy and the ivermectin but she is positive so I guess that is why they are going to do the shots.  :(

[DoggieMom328]

I forgot to add..this was for  50-65 lb dogs

[DoggieMom328]

I have treated 3 dogs with heartworms. They were pit bulls rescued from a shelter that I took in. well two I ended up keeping. You give them there monthly heartgard. but you also start them on doxycycline for 4 weeks. i gave 200 mg  in the morning and 200mg in the evening. Do this for 4 weeks..wait two months and repeat. All the while still giving the heartgard which you should be doing anyway yr round..especially if you live in hot climates. After 1 yr..they were all negative. they have been able to live happy normal lives without being crated for months or remaining calm. The vets wont tell you this because they make more money on the injections. the injections are deadly.. Giving the heartgard which has ivermectin in it..which is what kills the heartworms CAN sometimes cause some medical issues so after giving the heartgard. keep an eye out for any odd symptoms for atleast 48-72 hours. Severe coughing, or any adverse reactions. if your dog is a herding dog ..ex-sheltie,collies etc..they should see a vet for different heartworms meds. They are unable to take Ivermectin...or if they can it is at very low doses. the cost of this treatment is the price of the doxy plus your heartgard monthly. VERY LOW in COSTS compared to the deadly injections. FYI, been in rescue for a couple yrs so very familiar with the Heartworms.

[JGF25]

I just found out they are going to treat her with the arsenic shots and so I will do my very best to make sure she gets through it.  Being a Foster Dog Parent is very, very rewarding.  I had to put my dog of 9 years down and was looking for a way to help and this opportunity to help save a dog has been great!  If you are in the same boat I was in, think about fostering a rescue...you just make find one that you want to adopt!  

[JGF25]

Did you restrict him severely...such as putting the dog in the crate most of the time?  Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost?  Also, I'm not a stay at home mom so the dog would be crated while I'm away.  Is the sickness so bad that it requires someone to be present?  Since this is a rescue I presume they do not want to let the dog die of heartworm or put her down so I'm not really sure what they are going to do.  They have done doxycycline for quite a while which she is now done with and i just gave her heartguard.  It is sad really but half of their rescue dogs are HW positive.  I'm not rich, otherwise I would pay for it myself.  

[chelseygaulden]

I do not know about a test for staging, but I had a dog that we attempted to give heartguard to stop juvenille worms.It didn't work so we had to have him treated for heartworms anyway. It made him sooo sick, but it worked and he has been fine ever since.