A question, and a warning regarding canine heart worm.

[Vektor]

I just found out today that my 2.5 year-old mixed breed dog, Neptune, has tested positive for heart worm. Needless to say, I am devastated. He apparently is in the "early infection" stage and is not symptomatic at all. He has to go stay at the veterinary hospital for a few days, and will be administered treatment, after which he has to remain relatively inactive for 6 weeks to prevent the migration of the dead heart worms to the lungs, which can kill him.

This is all very scary. I have always cared for my animals very conscientiously, and was unfortunately unaware that his heart worm prevention had lapsed. The only reason I was even able to discover he was heart worm positive was because I boarded him with the vet for the weekend while I was out of town, and she suggested we might test him for heart worm as it has been a problem in these parts as of late. (Northern CA) I agreed, but really didn't think it would turn out he actually had it. I was very unpleasantly surprised to hear otherwise.

Anyone else ever have a similar problem? I hear prognosis is good if caught early. Any thoughts?

And please, test your pets for heart worm if there is any chance their prevention has lapsed, or they are not on preventive medicine. Apparently there is a bad epidemic in parts of the country right now.

My poor little buddy:

[Longhorn]

1. Same story for us a couple of years ago.

Our three-year-old black lab mix, Paco, tested positive and went through the treatment. The vet said that they basically give them just enough arsenic to kill the worms without killing the dog. Since she was young and healthy, he said the prognosis was excellent. It cost $300, I believe, in 2000.

The difficult part was keeping her inactive for those six weeks! He said the danger is that if her heart beats too fast, the dying or dead worms could break off and cause a stroke or other damage. I kept her on a leash next to me whenever I was home. Fortunately, this happened at a time when I wasn't working so I was home a lot. I think I left her in a bedroom when I had to leave since it was just for a few hours.

Anyway, she came through it just fine and is now eight years old. She's been our most expensive dog (a stray someone tied to a fence at the pool where my oldest daughter was a lifeguard) because she later tore her ACL and had to have surgery.

I'm sure your sweetheart will pull through just fine! :hug:

[Vektor]

2. Thanks, Longhorn!

Keeping Neptune inactive is DEFINITELY going to be a challenge. He is a very energetic young man and loves to just run around crazily all the time. I will certainly have to keep him on a short leash.

Apparently our bill is going to run about $600 - four days of hospitalization and treatment, and rounds of follow-up testing. Our vet isn't cheap, but is the best I have seen in my life.

My dogs, who are both shelter rescues, as well as four cats have been pricey, for sure, but I couldn't imagine not caring for them properly, and providing them with whatever care they need. I think Neptune will be OK - he is young and otherwise very healthy - I will just need to be diligent about keeping him calm.

Which will NOT be easy.

[underseasurveyor]

3. A brother in law's dog had them 3 or 4 years ago. He's OK

He noticed his (then) 4 year old German Shorthair was becoming quite listless, tired all the time and uninterested in going outside or playing and when he did try to play he became exhausted within a few minutes panting like a speeding locomotive, as my bil put it.

Off to the vets they went. It was border lining the no hope stage but they went ahead and began treatment. His dog stayed confined in a cage only big enough for him to stand up in and not much longer than his body in the vets office for the first 12 days with Iv's and lord knows what else, and after that ordeal when they took him home he was kept strictly in a crate when no one was home and also at night when they slept and on a short leash for potty time. No exertion and no excitement what-so-ever. Poor guy wasn't even allowed to go to the upstairs of their house. Then for a few more weeks he still had to go to the vets like 3 times a week for blood work, to check for pieces of dead worms or something like that. YUK:puke:
But 1500 dollars and 3 months later he was finally given a clean bill of health. However it still took about 6 or 7 months before my bil said his dog was back to his full energetic normal self again.

Now they give him heartgard all year round instead of just during the mosquito months. Much cheaper to prevent than to treat, he said.

His was a severe case so please don't get too worked up from this story. Your baby is in the early stages, and he's absolutely gorgeous BTW, and he'll come through this OK. The biggest thing to remember is NO exercise and as little excitement as possible.

Please give Neptune a kiss right between his sweet soulful eyes from me:*
OK:-)

[Vektor]

13. Thank you so much.

I am so overwhelmed at all the support and encouragement I have been getting. I appreciate everyone's kindness.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I have a co-worker who went through this

I mentioned to him that this was the time of year for heartworm tests, since this is very prevalent in the Northeast, but he had no idea what I was talking about. *sigh* So, of course, his dog had it. The toughest part was keeping her still and quiet, but she pulled through. So did an older German Shepherd that my vet was treating. It just takes a lot of patience. *sigh* I am so sorry.;(

Also, according to my vet, since he gives guarantees on all the inoculations that he gives my dogs, if they fail, the company issuing them will pay for the dog's veterinary care. Perhaps this is something that you could check into.:shrug:

Anyway, I am so sorry, and wish you and your most beautiful guy all the best. He really is a dog that could melt any heart. What a sweetie! Thanks for the photo and let us know how he is.:-)

[Vektor]

14. Thank you!

I will let you know how it goes. He has his appointment set for Tuesday to go in for the four day treatment. I am going to miss him around the house, but the vet says I can visit him - so I think I will do that...I only live five minutes from the animal hospital, thankfully.

Thanks for the kind words. :-)

[Rhiannon12866]

25. This sounds very promising

My vet kept the German Shepherd who had it, as well. That's how I learned about him, since I stopped by when he was being taken outside and saw him. And he made it. He apparently belonged to an older lady. *sigh*:-(

That is great that you live so close to the animal hospital! Actually, I can get to mine in six minutes, if I have to, which has come in handy more than once. That could make a big difference to him, that you can visit him. His attitude can be very important, since his being lonely or scared is something that you want to avoid. Also, when I had to leave my kitty at the vet's, I left a blanket with her, that smelled of home. If they'll let you do this, that might help, or something with your scent on it. I've read that used socks are especially good for this.:-)

You're welcome. Please let us know. And I also know how empty the house feels without them. And he looks and sounds like a very special dog.:hug:

[radfringe]

5. Hope it all goes well

just a note to all who have their pets on heartworm meds ---

friends of mine had a dog that was allergic to heartworm meds -- would breakout in skin rashes, severe itching. At first they tested the dog for all the regular type causes, then the not so regular, changed his diet, applied skin treatment -- but none of it did any good.

by chance they bumped into someone who told them that their dog also had the same skin problem and it turned out that the dog was allergic to heartworm meds

as it was winter time -- my friends stopped the heartworm meds and the skin problem cleared up. They did try other varieties of heartworm meds -- but the dog was allergic to all of them.

[Vektor]

15. Oh, the poor dog!

I hope that doesn't happen to my guys. I have one other dog who tested negative, and she is starting on Heartguard tonight. Thanks for the warning - I will be sure to keep my eyes peeled for any signs of sensitivities.

[Stepup2]

6. I am sorry to hear this

I had a dog years ago who had heartworms. He was a black and tan mutt and the ivermectin was really hard on him. He made it though and I have kept my dogs on heartguard year round since.

Prognosis good if detected early. They have fewer treatment related complications.

Good luck to you both!

[Vektor]

16. Thanks! And I have a

black and tan mutt too! Aren't they the greatest? I'm glad your dog pulled through ok. I think Neptune should be ok - he's still asymptomatic, and is very young and healthy. Keeping him calm for six weeks will be the real challenge!

[livetohike]

7. Don't worry - you caught it early

I had a dog with heartworm back in 1980. We had just moved to Houston, TX and found the best vet we have ever had in our lives since.

Anyway, Smokey had heart worm and was treated with arsenic and was just fine.

You are right. The challenge is to keep him quiet. This is very important. Smokey was only 1 years old when diagnosed. But we made it and so will you :-).

Hug that sweetie for me.

[Vektor]

17. I will most certainly

hug him for you, and everyone else too, just for good measure. :-) I'm glad Smokey recovered!

[SiouxJ]

8. This is scary!

I've let my dogs' heartworm meds laps as I didn't think they needed them really. I also don't like giving them medicine unless absolutely necessary.

Does anyone know, how exactly do dogs get heartworm? Is it contact with other dogs or the soil or what?

I'm sending good vibes your way. Poor Neptune! He looks like such a sweetie. I'm glad you found out when you did.

[InvisibleTouch]

9. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes.

So anything you can do to keep mosquitoes off your dog, is a good preventative. I don't like to use chemical bug-repellents (I won't use it on myself, let alone my dogs), but adding some garlic to the diet has been known to have good effects.

I've found Heartguard, the monthly chewables, to be fine for my dogs. Both of them consider these a treat. Be wary of the new 6-month "vaccine" that's been offered in recent years. I've heard of some very bad reactions to it.

To the OP, best of luck to Neptune - he's beautiful! Consider using a crate to keep him inactive during his recovery.

[SiouxJ]

10. Oh, that's right

I remember now. I live in Arizona and it's so dry that we don't have a lot of mosquitoes; especially in winter. I think that's why I let my guard down. They say you should keep them on the heartworm meds year round but I'm not so sure about that. It might just be a selling point. I've used those chewables too. I guess I'll have to think about it. I'll probably at least put them back on it when the weather warms up. It gets down below freezing here at night (I'm in the mountains) so I doubt mosquitoes are around in the winter here.

Thanks!

[Vektor]

18. He does have...

...a large crate from his potty training days...I might have to drag it back in from the garage. That certainly would be a good idea in the event that we have to step out and cannot keep an eye on him.

Thanks very much for the tip!

[Vektor]

20. Yes, mosquitoes

it is not transmitted from dog to dog, but if the same bug bites both dogs, both can be infected. This is pretty rare - I have two dogs, and only one tested positive.

I was surprised, too that he had been infected. I wasn't aware there was a real epidemic with this, but apparently so. Maybe have your vet do a routine blood test just to check - if the dogs are clear, ask what the safest prevention is.

I understand not wanting to administer meds to your dogs unnecessarily, but since heart worms are fatal if not treated, and the treatment is pretty harsh, prevention is definitely a better option.

Good luck!

[Rockholm]

11. Vektor, your baby is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little Mastiff in the mix?! Good luck with Neptune.

[Vektor]

19. Thank you!

He is actually Great Dane, German Shepherd, and Shar-pei - (hence the tiny fold-over ears!) interesting combination - he's one of a kind.

[sleepyhead]

12. The new heartworm treatment is safer

than the traditional arsenic treatment. We don't see much heartworm here in Brooklyn, but recently treated a dog that had come up from NC with heartworm infection. We used the new treatment (Immiticide) and she came through with flying colors. We are recommending that all of our patients stay on heartworm preventative year-round - it also prevents intestinal parasites, which they can encounter any time. And it's so much easier for them than undergoing heartworm treatment.

Best of luck to Neptune - I'm sure he will do fine. He is a cutie!

[InvisibleTouch]

21. Digging out one of my favorite books for you....

From Dr. Pitcairn's "Natural Health for Dogs & Cats":

"For those committed to a natural, non-chemical approach, here are some suggestions to help prevent heartworm. Use a completely natural (preferably organic) raw food diet fortified with raw garlic and liberal amounts of yeast. These foods may help to repel mosquitoes from the skin in some animals. To further minimize exposure to mosquitoes, you can keep your dog indoors in the evenings and night. Use a natural insect repellent when she does go outside: Rub one drop of eucalyptus oil, diluted in one cup of warm water, over the muzzle and the area between the anus and genitals (favorite mosquito-biting areas). Be careful to avoid rubbing the oil on the sensitive tissues of the eyes and mucous membranes."

I'll add that mosquitoes are most active around dusk and dawn, less so in the middle of the night.

Despite being a big advocate of holistic treatment, Pitcairn acknowledges that the rather harsh and toxic conventional approach to treating heartworm, is probably one's best bet at this time.

Again, best of luck. And btw, Neptune has the exact same color and pattern, and I do mean the exact same color and pattern, as does my girl: sand with black mask, slightly darker ears, exotic "eye makeup," and even the slightly darker shadings on the side of the head. Very different shape, but the same color.

[Vektor]

23. Thanks for the tips!

My dogs love garlic...

Your dog sounds beautiful too...what sort is she?

[sepia_steel]

22. Best of luck to your baby boy.

He is absolutely gorgeous. I believe he'll be just fine! :hug:

[Vektor]

24. Thank you!

I certainly hope so, and BTW, LOVE your Kerry picture.

[RadicalMom]

26. I never even see any mosquitos in my area. Does much of

Southern Cal have heartworm, do you know?

[ernstbass]

27. Best wishes for a speedy recovery