Took me dog to vet and it has heartworm and i wanted to know what it is and is it a worm in my dogs heart? Cause look what i found :http://www.marvistavet.com/assets/images/heartworm_inside_open_heart.gif
So what is it?
Thank you!
And don’t tell me to just ask my vet cause thats a old lazy answer!

The answer is provided by :
Pepe Silvia :
Heartworm larvae are carried by mosquitoes, who then transfer the larvae into dogs and cats when biting them. It is preventable, and your dog should have been on heartworm prevention tablets. It is literally a type of worm that manifests itself in the heart (and sometimes blood), and it requires extensive treatment via surgery or a series of injections. Your dog will need to be kept calm and sedentary after treatment, as activity can cause blockages of dead worms to occur in the heart.

Do a ton of research and follow your vet’s advice. This is a very difficult disease; good luck.

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.

I have an adopted dog that was tested positive for hearworm and is on medication. My dog is mostly a good dog but some times he changes into a nasty dog that just gets into all kinds of trouble and will grawl at me. I am wondering if any other heartworm positive dog owners find this happens to their dog as well. I wonder if it has something to do with the heartworms making him a little nuts at times. Thanks for any answers from heartworm dog owners.

This is was answered by :
Tessa :
The heart worms are in the heart. The worms might make a dog have trouble breathing, cough, and not have energy to play. The worms have never affected the dogs behavior. I rescue dogs,and foster them. Normally the rescue sends heart worm positive dogs to me until treatment is compete. I have had some dogs become sick, but never have they had behavioral problems.

I’ve been researching for weeks as I have a dog that tested positive for heartworm. The traditional treatments seem cruel at best. Has anyone tried and successfully cured/managed heartworm in a canine using holistic methods?

This is was answered by :
JenVT :
It would have been best to use a preventative to begin with. now you must suffer the consequences, as will your pet. The only other real option is euthanasia or a painful death.

I have always given my puppy her heartworm preventative medication. If I miss it this month, will it harm her? Thank you in advance
I wasn’t planning on missing, but I didn’t have a car to get to the vet. Thanks anyways

The best answer is by :
Stacey :
It depends on where you live. Very few areas in the continental U.S. require year round heartworm treatment because the temperature is too low for the transmission of heartworm larvae. The larvae require approximately 30 consecutive days of 60-degree weather where the temperature does not dip below 57F (14C) in order to reach this condition. Check out this link for a geographic map and more information.

I want to get my dog heartworm medication and was wondering, when I go to the vet, do I have to pay extra to get it? I was planning on using 1800petmeds and they require one before I can get Iverhart.

I just got my first dog, if you couldn’t tell. ^__^;
*don’t have insurance yet

The question was answered by :
walking lady :
Before you can get meds for heartworm, the vet needs to test your dog to make sure he doesn’t already have heartworm. The vet won’t charge you for a prescription, you only pay for meds, but your dog has to see the vet first to be tested.

I’m planning to get my first dog & don’t know alot about heartworms. I currently live in Florida & she will be a indoor/outdoor dog. Is it necessary to put the dog on heartworm prevention meds or should I just have her checked yearly? Most people I’ve known with dogs don’t have their dogs on the meds, so I’m wondering if its even worth it. Also, are Huskys anymore suseptible to heartworms than other type of dogs?

The question was answered by :
krissy112002 :
Any dog is suseptible to heartworm and yes you should have your dog on a heartworm preventative. If your dog gets heartworm, they will have to undergo aggressive treatment that will be very painful and will have to be seperated from contact with other animals and humans. It is a lot easier to prevent than it is to treat.

What does treatment consist of?
How long does treatment last?
What signs and symptoms does a dog exhibit during treatment?
Can a dog die during heartworm treatment?
What necessary precautions must be taken when caring for a dog that is undergoing treatment?

The answer is provided by :
Amanda W :
The treatment consists of a series of injections over a few days or a couple of months.

Dogs are often tired. Some of this may be from pain meds given during treatment. It is really hard on their bodies, though. They usually feel at least a little off.

Dogs can die during heartworm treatment. I’ve only seen it happen twice. They were rescue dogs that were not in peak condition otherwise and they had been heartworm positive for years by all evidence. There’s a risk, but the risks of leaving them infected are definitely higher.

You should keep your dog quiet. Very little exercise for the entire time they are being treated. Make sure they’re eating and they’re breathing ok and not coughing. Those can be signs that something is wrong. If that happens, contact your vet.

One of my dogs had to go through treatment shortly after I got him. He did fine with it and is doing fine now. It’s a serious thing, though and shouldn’t be taken lightly. I hope I’ve helped and I hope your dog does well.

I gave my dog his regular dose of the heartworm medication earlier this month. We just bought a pill that’s used both for heartworm and fleas. He has a lot of fleas and we would like to start the medication immediately but am not sure if I can give him more than one prescribed dose of the medicine in one month.

The best answer is by :
show breeders sell sick pups. :
i wouldn’t to much of one medicine could be harmful..

I have a Pug puppy who is about 7 months old. She has shots but I want to begin giving her preventative heartworm medication as soon as possible, but I heard something about having to do it before a certain age… Is that true? I think someone told me that I need to start it by 6 months of age… Will it be just as effective if I start now? I’m hoping it’s not true about needing to get it before 6 months… I’m just wondering what the facts are.
Thanks!

The following reply is by : Chigirl *Love A Chihuahua* :
FACT- you can still start the dog on Heart worm preventative like Interceptor monthly. BUT….you need to take the dog to the VET first & have a Heart worm test done, to make sure your dog doesn’t already have adult heart worms, if your dog does, then giving a preventative instead of treatment can actually be very harmful to your dog.

You need to talk with your Veterinarian about a heart worm test & then starting the dog on a monthly preventative.

Rogue Bullies-your VET may have something different.
My VET however requires a test before the preventative. My VET doesn’t even carry heart-guard!!!
So NO I’m not wrong, you are just being an idiot.