Breeding dogs with heartworms. - Page 2

macrowe1,     Thanks for understanding!!

Any kind of stress on the body, will affect the quality of sperm (or eggs)  not only the compromised immune system dealing with parasites but also the medication that the dog is receiving to kill the parasites can have a negative impact on the dog's current sperm production.  Also, a dog's current body state can and will affect it's progeny's DNA-RNA (same goes for any species.)  

Besides, the excitement, stress and activity that comes with mating will put the dog at risk for heart attack or stroke when they have heartworms.  

What I'd like to know is WHY the dog wasn't being sufficiently PROTECTED against getting heartworm in the first place?  Was this a case of a preventative product failure? 

Hexe, that was my next question.

These days there is no reason for any dog should suffer from heartworm infestation, preventative is and has been readily available for many years so why not use it???

I have seen dogs suffering from heartworm and know that they should be kept stress free and quiet during treatment so why use him at stud?

Why not wait until his treatment and recovery is complete and use him next time?

I don't see where I said that   " a weak immune system would be inherited ".

Hexe, Like I stated before, I do not own the dog.  All I know is the person that did own the dog at the time it became heartworm positive has said the dog was on preventative.  I have no reason to doubt that.  Thats about as much info as I can contribute.  

Hutchins, that's why I asked if this was a preventative product failure--because there have been some reports of breakthrough infections in dogs on ivermectin-based HW preventatives in the past year or so, and I was wondering if this were the case.

I have heard the same with Ivomec.  Whatever it is she is using, I am not sure it is working.  I was told that there were at least 2 other dogs from this kennel with heartworms that was also placed.  So obviously there was something going on, or not.  

Have not heard of Ivomec being effective against adult heartworms. Have I missed something?

Rik, no, you're correct--ivermectin is not effective in killing adult heartworms.  Since 2009, there has been a shortage of Immiticide, the drug used as the adulticide in the HW treatment protocol, which has resulted in the drug being 'rationed', and some infected dogs being placed on an alternative protocol. This protocol calls for the dog to be treated with ivermectin or milbemycin oxide, to control the circulating microfilaria and prevent further infection of the dog, along with a course of doxycycline, and anti-inflammatory injections, until the Immiticide becomes available again and the dog can be properly treated for the parasite.  You can see the alternative protocol info here. 

Hutchins, given that it's unlikely the dog in question is completing the actual treatment protocol because Immiticide is still not readily obtained, I do think it's irresponsible to use the affected dog for breeding simply because doing so places the dog's very life at significant risk. Perhaps, however, the breeder is more interested in getting at least one more litter out of him before he keels over, even if getting that litter out of him is what ultimately causes him to do so.  That's very sad.