Heartworm treatment for dogs - very worried

[Tinkermommy]

I posted a couple of months ago about my daughter and I rescuing a dog. We never found the owner and we love him now so he is ours and we named him Tucker.

We took him in to get fixed, vaxed, checked-out. He tested positive for heartworm (twice). He's been on antibiotics for a month and tomorrow he gets his first injection.

The thing I am worried about is keeping him calm. Apparently, if they start running around they can dislodge a dead heartworm into their lungs and can die almost instantly. He has 3 of these shots over 3 months and we have to keep him calm all during that time.

Well, Tucker is very active. The vet says to keep him in his cage or tethered on leash inside the house. He is always on a leash when hi is outside. Also, when someone comes to the door he goes berserk!

I am really worried about keeping him calm and also keeping him happy for three month. Has anyone gone through this or have any suggestions?

 

[okeydokey]

Can the vet prescribe a mild sedative for the course of treatment?

 

[Disney Doll]

I agree with okeydokey. I'd ask for something to take the edge off him & keep him calmer during the treatment period.

 

[Luv'sTink]

They give dogs Benadryl for allergies, maybe you could use that. Ask your vet if it is okay, if it is ask them for the dosage.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I will ask about a sedative. I think it would be easier to keep him drugged but I hate that it's for three months!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It is rare for that to happen. You don't need to keep him perfectly still; just a low activity level.

 

[Tinkermommy]

It is rare for that to happen. You don't need to keep him perfectly still; just a low activity level.

Thanks. My vet was drilling this into me. I think I can keep him low level activity. I will see about getting him some more toys, chews, etc.

I think maybe that is why someone dropped him. They couldn't afford the treatment (it's very expensive). He's such a good, sweet dog.

 

[arminnie]

I had a rescue that I had to treat for heartworm. He was a bolter who loved to go run and run.

I just was extra careful with making sure he didn't slip out of the house (his favorite sport).

We had no issues at all. Good luck.

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks. My vet was drilling this into me. I think I can keep him low level activity. I will see about getting him some more toys, chews, etc.

They aren't cheap, but look into investing in some of the different Kong and activity toys that require the dog to work at getting the treat out. Some can take hours! You can parcel out his dog food in them, even.

It really, really is rare for the dog to have a reaction. Just try and keep him for having a crazed running fit. Normal, calm house behavior is usually ok. It really, really helps if he's crate trained ahead of time, and is comfortable in it.

Good luck, and god bless you for sticking with him!

Terri

 

[Jey12]

Keeping him calm is very important. But unless he's normally running around on your walls and ceiling in the house you should be fine. Basically don't let him bolt out the door and chase a squirrel or rabbit around the yard every day. No long walks or jogs, no playing fetch or rambunctious play. Things to watch for where the dog could be in distress is they aren't eating much or at all, bouts of coughing, lethargic, heavy panting and the dog just isn't their normal self. If at anytime you notice any of these things call your vet. It is very difficult on the owner because the dog has all of this energy and during the treatment you can't do much to help them get rid of it. Before you give any sedative check with your vet to make sure it won't interact with the meds given for the heartworm treatment. Maybe save it for the really bad days when your pup wants to do nothing but climb your walls. Get plenty of toys that exercise their mind, such as kongs and other toys that require them to think to receive the treat. This will help with the energy level. Now is also a good time since he's new to you to teach some tricks and stuff like sit, down, stay and to come when called. If he already knows those you can reinforce them and the mental activity combined with low level exercise will help with the energy.

I worked for over a decade at a clinic where we treated at least 2 dogs a week for heartworms and rarely did we see an adverse reaction. But you don't want your dog to be the exception, so stick to the suggestions given by the vet as best you can. That's all you can do. If he's a young, healthy dog chances are even lower there will be an issue. Good for you for rescuing this guy and making him healthy again. Dogs need more people like yourself.

 

[Dee & Greg]

We just finished the three month Heartworm treatment for the beagle we rescued. The shots HURT... our girl was very sore in her back for a day or so. We kept her in her crate to stay quiet, but she was pretty uncomfortable at first.. panting, etc. Called the vet to say she was in pain, but he said that was an actual reaction to the medication. He gave us steriods.
She did the three shots in a row... and now is doing fab!

 

[Lanshark]

Just adopted a great pyrenees from a rescue. She is having her last heartworm treatment today. She'll be at the vet for three days. The foster mom is going to keep her next week and then we'll play it by ear. The foster mom has a graduation coming up and needs to make the transition because her house is going to be crazy. The dog is 4 and very calm but I too am worried about keeping her calm during the transition. I'm out of school/teacher workweek on the 24th so she'll have a lot of company during the summer.

 

[robinb]

What about engaging him mentally instead of physically? Put a training program in place to keep him from getting bored. Now would be the perfect time to put an end to his berserk behavior when someone comes to the door.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

During the course of treatment, the dog may have some shortness of breath and lethargy because as the worms die, they have to go somewhere, and where they go is into the bloodstream and the lungs. So shortness of breath in and of itself isn't something that means death is imminent; it just means the treatment is working. You would not want a dog who has dead worm particles in his blood running around because that would force the heart and lungs to work extra hard and obviously, that wouldn't be a good thing. But normal heart and lung function is ok, albeit possibly labored. Basically the dog has to just really rest during this difficult attack on its body. Also, the shot is extremely painful. (Humans would likely be in agony; dogs tolerate things a little better but can't tell us with words how bad it is.) If I gave any other medication, it would be pain medicine for the pain from the shot, not a sedative. Breathing has to be optimal as it stands, and a dog that's sedated won't be breathing optimally. They do usually give steroids as well, to minimize the body's immune reaction.

 

[Jey12]

We always sent dogs home on steroids and pain pills if they were acting extremely painful. At the clinic all heartworm treatments were given a pain injection before the shot was given. The injection should be given in the lower back between the end of the ribs and hip bone in the muscle. The side it's given on should be alternated between treatments. You also may notice some swelling in that area and a warm compress can help. While shortness of breath, long bouts of coughing and restricted breathing does not mean the dog will die, it should be enough of a concern for a vet call. I wouldn't take any breathing issues with a dog undergoing heartworm treatment lightly. In most cases the dog is sore for a few days after the injection and that's about it.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

Awww, bless you for being this dogs life saver! May he have a (non) speedy recovery, lol!