How much does it cost to treat Heartworm?
My husband and I want to adopt another dog. We fell in love with a 2 year old Pitbull (I think she weighs about 50lbs) at the human society. They told us that she tested positive for heartworm so she will need to be treated before she is eligible for adoption. From what I understand, we will have to cover the cost of treatment if we want to adopt her. They said they would call us tomorrow with more details but I have no idea what to expect. I’ve never dealt with heartworm before.
The question was answered by :
A Great Dane Lady :
Vet treatment is expensive. The dog must be crated and kept quiet for months.
If this dog has a light heartworm load, ask about the "Slow Kill" method. In this method, the vet gives the dog an antibiotic for a couple of weeks. Then they give the dog Heartgard every 2 weeks for 6 months. This method is on the net and would be safer for the dog. The worm die off is slower so they don’t need to be kept quiet for months. It is less expensive for you. You can look this up on the net.
I’d tell you about alternative treatments, but I don’t think the shelter would go for it.