Tested positive for heartworms - treatment?

[nikkichan]

I adopted a new dog, Travis, from a shelter back in Jan. They told me that he had had heartworms but was treated. They also said the treatment was hard on him.

Fast forward to the other day when we go to the vet for a checkup. He tests positive for heartworms. The shelter faxes over the info on the treatment they had done on him. My vet tells me that standard treatment is a series of three injections, but for some reason, the shelter only did two. I ask what we should do and she said that while we could do the full, three shot treatment, she didn't recommend it because of how tough the first treatment was. Apparently the test only showed evidence of baby heartworms (microfilaria) and since he's consistently been on heartguard and isn't showing any other signs, she suggested that it might resolve itself and to just keep him on heartguard and retest in three months.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Am I doing the right thing by not doing the injection series at this point?

 

[Saeleofu]

I'd just keep him on Heartgard. There's a shortage of Immiticide (the usual treatment) right now anyway, so Heartgard may be the only feasible choice, regardless. If he didn't react well to the 2 shots, that may be why they stopped them, and definitely a reason not to try it again.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I think you're totally doing the right thing by not giving him the injections. It's pretty common in the rescue world to treat heartworms with the preventative - it's cheaper and has a high success rate in young dogs with mild cases of heartworm - just make sure that you keep him on the same brand and dosage of heartworm preventative that your vet gives you.

 

[RawFedDogs]

The vet is giving you good information. If these microfilaria survive to adulthood, continue the Heartguard once/month and any offspring from the adults will be killed automatically and the adults will die from old age in 2 years. To me, this is the best way to treat a heartworm infestation if it's minor and causing no major symptoms in the dog.

 

[xpaeanx]

I believe we've had a few people on the board that treated their + dogs this way with success. It takes longer... but is easier on the dog. So as it's a mild case, this is the way I would choose to treat.

 

[StillandSilent]

I'm doing the same thing with my foster boy, Grimm. His next test in in a week, so hoping for negative!

 

[nikkichan]

Fingers crossed!

 

[Miakoda]

Keep him on the Heartguard as it is a proven slow-kill method and it will prevent any new ones from joining in on the party.