HEARTWORM
(scroll down for types of treatment by several veterinarians)
The heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes.
The heartworm is a long thin worm that gradually but in the end literally clogs the heart as if it is stuffed with spaghetti. Untreated it is always fatal. In danger areas it is only a matter of time before a dog will be infected unless it is protected by a heartworm preventive. There are many excellent products on the market that you can purchase from your vet, including some that have dual or multi-preventive qualities. You can give your dog a pill once a month and not only prevent heartworms, but also flea infestations, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.. You can even buy a monthly topical heartworm application that will protect your dog against ear mites, flea infestations, mange and ticks. The vast majority of stray dogs have heartworm disease. Despite the fact that heartworm disease is curable for economical reasons detection forms a death sentence even at private shelters. The disease is a huge burden for rescue groups as shelters call them, hoping they can save the dog. And most of the dogs they are called upon to help by individuals who have found lost or stray dogs, have the disease. If a dog is fairly young and otherwise healthy, and the disease is not too far advanced, it is now possible to completely cure it. In recent years the treatment has been refined and most dogs who undergo it recover completely. The test for heartworm requires only one drop of blood and a rapid analysis and is free of charge in many vet practices.
How can you help?
First, if you are interested in adopting a dog that has been treated for heartworm disease, but worried about the long term effects on its health, please know that these dogs can live normal healthy lives following treatment. We suggest that you consult your own vet to confirm this. Then don't be afraid to lose your heart to one of these dogs. Second, if you are financially able, we ask you to donate the (documented) cost of the dogs complete veterinary treatment as your adoption fee. Many people are willing to independently foster the stray they have found.
Please be a responsible owner and keep any dogs you have on a heartworm preventive. It really takes so little to keep your dog safe from this deadly disease.
Medication as a possibility if heartworm in blood:
First vet:
Start with medicine for heart (Enalapril 20mg once a day) give it 2 to 3 months.
and the pill to thin the blood and widen the bloodvvessels, about 10 days before you start the treatment.
Between and after the treatments vitamine B complex
Please work it all out with your veterinarian !
Watch how the dog reacts on it - prevent a shock
READ this web site please
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content
By experienced vet (we experienced this treatment for our dog and it worked out fine)
Premedication:
Start with:
Asperin 100mgr - 1 to 3 weeks
Enalapril 20mg once a day for the heart -
both continue after the treatment for 2 weeks
Between and after the treatments vitamine B complex
Regarding Heartworm procedures, it is as follows:
- Aspirin 100mgr 1 to 3 weeks before adulticide treatment, during
and up to 3 weeks after treatment, in the dosage of 5 to 7 mg per
Kilo.
No food/drink the day before after 22.00 hours because the dog gets
a sedative before these painful injections are given, very
slowly
in the lumbar muscle
- The adulticide treatment is by using Immiticide (melarsomine), in
the dosage of 1 ml / 10 kg , given twice, 24 hours
apart.
Next
day start :
once a day Asperin 100mgr - Enalapril 20mgr
twice a day Chimar = anti inflammatory (every 12 hours) you can
start on the day after the treatment
The
secondary effects of this injections can
be:
- 1 or 2 days after injection, anorexia
- 7 to 20 days after injection, respiratory symptoms, like
depression, anorexia, cough, tachypnea. These secondary effects are
due to the death of adults in the pulmonary system and only appear
if the infestation of heartworms is very high.
If it occurs, we need to medicate the animal with antibiotic to
prevent pneumonia and corticoids as anti-inflammatory agent and
modulator of the immune system.
The microfilaricide treatment, for the babies, is given 4 to 6
weeks after the adulticide, and it’s ivermectine in the dosage of
50 mcg per kilo.
3 to 4 weeks after the microfilaricide treatment, we test again to
see if its negative already. If its not, we repeat the ivermectine
treatment, in the same dosage.
3 to 4 weeks again, and repeat the test. If its negative, then we
can start the prevention with oral form.
If the test is positive 12 weeks after the adulticide treatment, at
the time of the second test, then we need to assume that the
adulticide treatment was insufficient in one dosage and we need to
repeat the entire protocol again.