Heartworms - Page 1

Hello,

My german shepherd tested positive for heartworms today when she had her annual exam...I m really upsed because I haven t missed a dose from her heartworm medicine, yet she tested positive...did it happen to anyone here ??  I really love my dog and I am horrified thinking that the condition might worsen even though she's under treatment now..

It does happen but not often,
I would have gotten a second opinion tho.
If caught early you should not have any problems.

What is being used to treat the dog?

This is hard to get through but its good information,
www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

Recall on Heart Worm Prevention Meds
Reported by: Beverly Tanner
Last Update: 8/31/2009 5:51 pm


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Recall on Heart Worm Prevention Meds

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Heart Worm Information
The heartworm prevention medicine, Worm Shield, has been yanked off the shelves by its manufacturer because there's not enough medicine in the product to prevent heartworms. Local vet, Dr William Lamb with Vulcan Park and Animal Care, says recalls are not that uncommon. He says, "That shows in my mind good stewardship and quality control an actual concern for their products and the people who use their products." Lamb says even with this recall, pet owners should still remain vigilant about heartworm prevention, and customers agree. Emmie Dawson says, "We have always done it every month, first of the month. Anything we can do to help her live a nice life that's what we want to do!" Dog owner, Phil Collins says, "We want her to have the best care that's possibly available to her so that she will be a happy pet for many years." Vets say it's very important to make sure your dog is current on its heart prevention treatment, but its imperative for your cat! Dr. Lamb says, "The cat which is also susceptible to heart worms has no treatment for it. A good number of cats will just drop dead out of the blue from heart worm infection." He says since heartworms are transmitted through mosquitos, preventative care is extremely important here in the south.

http://www.thewholedog.org/heartworm.html

might want to read this

It has been happening a lot in Missouri, Where I work, I deal with Novartis and Merial on a daily bases, about getting help to treat these positive dogs that have been on HWP. I have to jump through hoops to get help.

This is what we do::

After they test positive in clinic (snap test)
Antech test(outside source) conformation test(the companies require)


then depending on if dog is microflaria positive or has not been on HWP


1- Ivermectin and Dex shot -stay at clinic for 6 hours,go home with Doxycycline for a month

2- 1 single injection of Immiticide go home with a months worth of

Buffered aspirin

Pred

Penicillin

3- 2 Immiticide injection 24 hours apart with the same meds as above

all while given HWP every 15 days starting from the 1st injection

then 6 months after the 1st injection a heart worm test.

Pain shots if the owners want it for each shot also.

That is the way we do it at work and the way that Merial and Novartis like it done.


Company won't help if owner has not had a HW test every year and was not on HWP by the time the pupy was 4 months old, IF puppy was over 5 months old when started need to do a HW test in 6 months and at 1 year then every year after that. If dog was never on HWP and tested and tested negitive, and put on HWP then another test in 6 months.
I hope this helps

I had a dog go through this that was on HWP,the only time I was not sure when he got it he was away training and the trainer would not sign anything stating that he gave my dog his meds sent him with 6 months of Interceptor and 6 months of Frontline, he was off training came back did a HW test, he was NEG. (He was 1-2 years old at the time) then did another test when he was 5.5 years old and he was Positive, I about died,  Because back then you didn't have to have the testing done yearly and I had VERY good records of his HWP so they paid(level 1) they called it. BUT I am very lucky because I work at the Vets office so my cost was very low, not what other people pay(PERKS LOVE THEM). Manny (my dog) did very well uncomfortable for a day or two after the shots but all in all did great.

Hope it helps
Robin

Uberland, Interesting article. I live in S. Florida and our holistic vet is adamantly against chemical heartworm prevention. As the article states, all of the chemicals we are putting on and in our dogs, combined with over vaccinating and giving them grain filled, poor quality kibble diets, are giving our domestic dogs poor immune systems, preventing them from fighting a parasite such as heartworms. Our holistic vet had us put our dogs on Black Walnut or Quasia Bark- 1/2 tsp. a week. I've been doing this for only a year and a half and  I am a little nervous about it, but she claims this works real well. In addition she has done her own trials and has successfully treated many HWP dogs with it. Do you have any personal experience with using these herbs yourself? Our dogs are on a raw, grain free diet. In the meantime I am testing our dogs two to three times a year.