Heartworms

Rick-a-Roo · 01-07-2023, 01:12 PM

We took B & B to the vet yesterday for a check up. Both were determined as being ‘heartworm positive’, dammit! The vet stated that this was likely the result of flea bites, which is odd as they have been flea free for some time now.

We have to go to an associated office near by to get treatment… another dammit!

JD Miller · 01-07-2023, 03:27 PM

Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito

Quote:

Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states. The Houston area has one of the highest rates of infection in the country.

Rick-a-Roo · 01-07-2023, 05:39 PM

Mea culpa…I I meant mossie but my finger went astray on the keyboard.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Hunter07 · 01-13-2023, 03:02 AM

Treatment for heartworm, is very expensive. Years ago, I had a Black Lab that rode with me every other trip, in my semi.

He was fully vaxxed but, still somehow got heartworm.

IIRC, back then, it cost me around $1500 for the exam, X-rays, treatment and a night or two in the animal hospital.

I broke down in tears when the Vet showed my the X-rays of Hunters heart.

How did I figure out 'something' was wrong? We lived out on the farm, and he'd follow me everywhere. Dogs will be dogs, so he was always sniffing 'everything'. I'd finish doing what I was doing, and start walking towards my workshop or the house. I'd get maybe 100' away from where I was doing stuff, turn and look. There he was, still sniffing. So I'd whistle, and call him. He'd come a runnin'! Full bore! I'd turn and keep heading to where I was going, and hear him sounding like a herd of elephants running across the lawn........then 'POOF'! I'd hear him hit the ground, but before I could turn around, he was back on his feet, 'shaking it off', looking at me like, "WTF just happened Dad?"

It was a truely a 'HAPPY DAY', when the Vet said he was 'cured'. My Buddy was back! He lived to be 13 years old.

4thIDvet · 01-13-2023, 09:28 AM

Not sure of the ticks Rick but like JD says around here its the mosquito spreads it. Neighbors pit bull from next door who followed me and my cat every damn step we took sadly died of the worms.
They have a once a month pill 'not cheap' they give the dogs around here. Neighbor was not giving the poor guy the pill but he told me he was. I even offered to buy the damn meds but he lied to me said he was getting them.

Rick-a-Roo · 01-14-2023, 12:58 PM

B&B will see the vet on Tuesday. We will be discussing the pros & cons of
Inoculation vs slow kill. Either way is expensive. At the moment we’re leaning
towards the slow kill method, but that will involve at least a year of very TLC…
more so than they get now, which is a lot.

Some 20 years ago Kim’s nephew’s Alsatian (GS) died in from heartworms in our
back yard, and is buried there. We’ll do whatever it takes to prevent the same
fate for our two.

Rick-a-Roo · 01-17-2023, 04:50 PM

UPDATE: Fortunately it turns out that B&B are in the very early stages of infection
(invasion?), and that the vet is well on board with the slow-kill method. It will be a ten-
month regime of medication, confinement to the house unless taken outside on a leash,
and some other not-too-difficult requirements.

I feel a whole lot better than I did a week ago.

01-07-2023, 01:12 PM	#1
Rick-a-Roo Gaw' Blimey Limey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Round behind the sleazy bars of Telephone Road Posts: 25,433	Heartworms We took B & B to the vet yesterday for a check up. Both were determined as being ‘heartworm positive’, dammit! The vet stated that this was likely the result of flea bites, which is odd as they have been flea free for some time now. We have to go to an associated office near by to get treatment… another dammit! __________________ zulu6 out

01-13-2023, 09:28 AM	#5
4thIDvet slug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Astor Florida Posts: 45,679	Not sure of the ticks Rick but like JD says around here its the mosquito spreads it. Neighbors pit bull from next door who followed me and my cat every damn step we took sadly died of the worms. They have a once a month pill 'not cheap' they give the dogs around here. Neighbor was not giving the poor guy the pill but he told me he was. I even offered to buy the damn meds but he lied to me said he was getting them. __________________ God Bless Americas Veterans. All who are serving and have served.

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01-07-2023, 05:39 PM	#3
Rick-a-Roo Gaw' Blimey Limey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Round behind the sleazy bars of Telephone Road Posts: 25,433	Mea culpa…I I meant mossie but my finger went astray on the keyboard. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

01-13-2023, 03:02 AM	#4
Hunter07 I'm a grumpy SOB Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Frostbite Falls, MN Posts: 10,213	Treatment for heartworm, is very expensive. Years ago, I had a Black Lab that rode with me every other trip, in my semi. He was fully vaxxed but, still somehow got heartworm. IIRC, back then, it cost me around $1500 for the exam, X-rays, treatment and a night or two in the animal hospital. I broke down in tears when the Vet showed my the X-rays of Hunters heart. How did I figure out 'something' was wrong? We lived out on the farm, and he'd follow me everywhere. Dogs will be dogs, so he was always sniffing 'everything'. I'd finish doing what I was doing, and start walking towards my workshop or the house. I'd get maybe 100' away from where I was doing stuff, turn and look. There he was, still sniffing. So I'd whistle, and call him. He'd come a runnin'! Full bore! I'd turn and keep heading to where I was going, and hear him sounding like a herd of elephants running across the lawn........then 'POOF'! I'd hear him hit the ground, but before I could turn around, he was back on his feet, 'shaking it off', looking at me like, "WTF just happened Dad?" It was a truely a 'HAPPY DAY', when the Vet said he was 'cured'. My Buddy was back! He lived to be 13 years old.

01-14-2023, 12:58 PM	#6
Rick-a-Roo Gaw' Blimey Limey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Round behind the sleazy bars of Telephone Road Posts: 25,433	B&B will see the vet on Tuesday. We will be discussing the pros & cons of Inoculation vs slow kill. Either way is expensive. At the moment we’re leaning towards the slow kill method, but that will involve at least a year of very TLC… more so than they get now, which is a lot. Some 20 years ago Kim’s nephew’s Alsatian (GS) died in from heartworms in our back yard, and is buried there. We’ll do whatever it takes to prevent the same fate for our two.

01-17-2023, 04:50 PM	#7
Rick-a-Roo Gaw' Blimey Limey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Round behind the sleazy bars of Telephone Road Posts: 25,433	UPDATE: Fortunately it turns out that B&B are in the very early stages of infection (invasion?), and that the vet is well on board with the slow-kill method. It will be a ten- month regime of medication, confinement to the house unless taken outside on a leash, and some other not-too-difficult requirements. I feel a whole lot better than I did a week ago.