Has anyone had a dog go through heartworm treatment?

Heartworm disease is a very serious, preventable and all too common disease. I personally had a dog that had heartworms when I was in my early teens. I have helped treat many dogs with it since then in my career as a vet tech.

First off, it really depends on the worm load in the heart as to how effective treatment will be and how long recovery time might be. All dogs respond differently to treatment and I have seen a few of them die. Typically a dog will come in and stay at the hospital for at least two days. Day one a medication call Melarsomine/Immiticide is injected into the muscle alongside the spine near the hip bone. The dog is monitored for any adverse reactions and kept as quiet and calm as possible. 24 hours later they are given another injection on the other side. Kept over night to monitor and usually released the next day. With heavy worm loads (class 1-4, one being mild, 4 the worst) treatment may have to be repeated in four months, depending on bloodwork.

Many factors go into the cost of treatment, and the dog's weight/size is the biggest. The medication is expensive and is dosed on weight.

Depending on where you live, I would imagine it would cost anywhere from $500-$1000+ for treatment. After getting the dog home, it needs to be confined to a kennel (ideally) for about 6 weeks. Leash walks only, little excitement as possible.

It can be very rough on them and some dogs don't make it. Most have a full recovery and lead normal, healthy lives afterward. Best of luck to you and your rescued girl!! Make sure and talk with the vet before starting any treatment, ask all the questions you want to, that's what they are there for!

3 years ago our Siberian Husky had heart worms but not in the advanced stages. They shaved her sides when they gave her the shots. She had to get 2 initial shots and stay overnight at the vet - then come home and be calm (no running no excitement) for 4 weeks - needless to say that was hard for us to do as she also had severe separation anxiety. There were 2 more shots given a month apart and with each of them she had to stay calm for at least 2 weeks after. Then a month after the last treatment they retested for heart worm and put her on the monthly dose of Interceptor. She is doing fine now. total cost was $1500.

I adopted a Lab from the SPCA about 23 years ago that tested positive for heartworms. It broke my heart but I knew without a doubt that I was going to do whatever I could to help him. Putting him down was not an option. I remember that the treatment was expensive. My dog had to board at a facility while undergoing treatment b/c of activity restrictions. The good news is, he went on to lead a long happy life. He did have an enlarged heart as a result of the damage inflicted by the heartworms and experienced shortness of breath with extended activity, but overall was in good health. Can you imagine the damage caused by worms like spaghetti noodles burrowing holes in the heart? After my experience, I have been very diligent in providing heartworm preventative for my pets and proactive in educating others. Heartguard or other forms of heartworm preventative are inexpensive and necessary to ensure the longlife and good health of your pet. Thanks for having a big heart and taking in a rescue dog and providing life-saving treatment.

I've had a couple of fosters treated for heartworm. It takes a few months, and the dog must be kept still and calm the whole time. That's the toughest part, especially for young dogs. They need to do this, as piece of dead worm could break off and clog an artery, causing a heart attack. Otherwise, the treatment isn't terribly painful or difficult, just shots and having blood drawn at the vet's. Sorry, I don't remember the cost (it was billed to the rescue organization.) The dogs are fine now, and kept on preventative so they never get them again!

Heartworm is frequently fatal if not treated, so unfortunately it really needs to be done if you pup has them.

Good Luck to you and your new dog!

Yes,

We adopted an already infected walker hound from a wonderful shelter in N.Calif. years ago.

They had already done the blood work and started the highly toxic treatment.

He was very listless and thin.For a good month he was kept in a quiet area.He needed coaxing to eat,drink and also walk a short distance outside to relieve himself.

He did survive and lived many good active years.

The preventative meds can only be used after the animal has tested negative for heart worm.

Please do not give this to your animal before confirming this through lab work.

You can buy a 6 month supply of heartworm meds from your vet for around $50. My dog loves his hearworm meds! They are meat flavored so they are enjoyable for the animal and you don't have to fight them. As far as how it may affect them... I've seen no affects. My lil guy sure loves gobbling them up though!

Many many moons ago we had a dog with heartworms. The cost was exorbitant then (not sure what it is now, though).

She had to be boarded at the vets office and kept away from everyone else and all human contact ~ At the time we didn't have a space like that what with 5 kids running around our house at all times, plus their friends, and the myriad of random people living with us.

It was miserable for the dog most of all. This particular dog did actually die after about 5 days of treatment (obviously this is a worst case scenario type of thing ~ I should also note that we refer to the Vet that was treating her "The Butcher" and don't go to him anymore for our pets).

It *can* be a big deal depending on how bad the heartworms are. If you catch it wicked early the treatment is shorter lived and not as painful. Still absolutely sucky, but not as bad as a case that's left untreated for a long time.

Treatment has two goals: kill adult heartworms, and kill all microfilariae, or immature worms. Dogs with mild or moderate cases of heartworm disease usually do very well with treatment.

http://dogtime.com/heartworm.html

I vaguely remember but about 14 years ago my family had a Rottweiler who got heart worms. From what i remember we just started a medicine regimine for her. She would vomit a lot and sometimes wouldnt want to do anything except lay down. She eventually was able to get rid of all the heart worms. Heart Guard works! :).