I have rescued a female mini schnauzer and she has heartworm I just found out, the previous owner never gave her heartguard. I called my vet and he said she would need to stay at the vet hospital for 1 week and needs an injection in her spine to kill all the worms. Does this sound right? Is it really harsh on the dog? He is charging $300 for everything which I think is a really good price. Any feedback from people who have had to go through this with their dog would be helpful, thanks!
The following reply is by : K9Resqer :
We see several HW+ dogs in rescue every year. I’ve fostered several myself and even kept one of them.
We’ve never had one stay at the vet for a week. Usually they’re there 24-48 hours after the shot for observation and then sent home.
We did have one dog that was given the injection in his spine. He looked so silly because he had shaved spots on his back for the longest time.
The “usual” heartworm treatment is to inject a concoction that includes arsenic to kill the worms. So yes, it can be harsh on a dog. But much better than the dog suffering, and dying, from heartworms.
You’ll need to keep the dog quiet for a month after treatment. No full out running, leash walking only, etc. This is because the worms will be breaking up and if they get into the bloodstream the dog can throw a clot and die.
If the dog is in early stages of heartworm disease, there’s no reason why she can’t make a full recovery.
Good luck!