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Post Heartworm Treatment Instructions
HEARTWORM TREATMENT IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW WILL HELP YOUR DOG RECOVER FROM HEARTWORM INFESTATION SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLIANCE ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR DOG’S SUCCESSFUL AND COMPLETE RECOVERY When your dog arrives to you in the north, its heartworm treatment has been completed. Unless you have been otherwise advised, no further treatment is needed other than monthly heartworm preventative. For dogs who test heartworm negative in the South, a Proheart injection has been administered, which protects a dog from heartworm for six months. It also kills off any microfilaria (baby heartworms) that might have been present in its bloodstream. 1) Veterinary Care We urge that veterinarians in the North contact the treating veterinarian in the South with any questions, especially with regard to a positive heartworm test within the first year after treatment. It is very common for dogs who have undergone heartworm treatment to test positive for heartworms for up to 12 months following treatment. This is due to the microfilaria which may still be in their bloodstream. Thus, a heartworm test in the first twelve months may show a false positive. It is ill advised to treat a dog twice; in fact, this could be very dangerous for the dog. It is important to note that a treated dog should not be given anesthesia during the first six months following heartworm treatment. Also, there may be a temporary swelling or lump at the treatment site, on a dog’s rump near the hip, which is not a cause for concern. 2) Exercising Your Dog Post-Heartworm Treatment In the first month after heartworm treatment, leash walking is permitted. Building up your dog’s stamina slowly is good for them, but their heart rate should not get too high. Start out with 10-15 minute walking sessions, the first week. Then increase by 5-10 minute per session each week. After the first month, gradually resume normal exercise and play. 3) Continuing Care You should have already been told about the extreme necessity of keeping your dog on 12-month heartworm prevention. This is important for the health of your dog and to comply with our SGRR contract. This applies to all dogs, but is critically important for dogs originating in the South, and those who have undergone heartworm treatment. 4) Things to watch for after treatment Things to look for are coughing, lack of appetite, listlessness, troubled or labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, pale gums, difficulty walking, and blooding from the nose. If you see any of these symptoms please contact your nearest full service veterinary clinic, or a veterinary emergency clinic. DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ANYONE ON TEAM SUNSHINE WITH QUESTIONS AND PLEASE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROCEDURES DONE WITHOUT BEING IN TOUCH WITH AN INFORMED VOLUNTEER. BE SURE TO READ THE INFORMATION BELOW TO UNDERSTAND HEARTWORMS AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE HEALTH OF YOUR DOG HEARTWORM DISEASE Heartworm disease in dogs is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. Heartworms are actually nematode worms which are called Dirofilaria immitis. Adult heartworms live inside of the heart of an infected dog. The Life Cycle of the Heartworm - How Dogs Become Infected Mosquitoes bite in order to feed on the blood of their victim. When a mosquito feeds on the blood of a dog infected with heartworms, that mosquito then becomes infected with heartworms also. When the mosquito then feeds on another dog, the mosquito can pass heartworms on to the dog which he is feeding on. Mosquitoes are infected with microfilaria, a larval form of heartworm, when feeding on an infected dog. As time progresses, the heartworm microfilaria develops into an infectious stage. When the infected mosquito feeds on another uninfected dog at this stage, the microfilaria can then be passed on to that dog. Once inside the dog, the heartworm microfilaria continue to develop and mature and eventually reach the heart, where the heartworm finishes its maturation cycle. The length of time necessary for the microfilaria to develop into an adult heartworm is normally four to six months. During that four to six month time period, standard heartworm blood tests will usually remain negative. Classes of Heartworm Disease in Dogs Before making the decision to treat a heartworm infection, the severity of the disease must be evaluated. Heartworm disease is broken into three classes:
Classes of heartworm disease are determined based on clinical signs and results from basic blood testing and chest radiographs. Treatment Options for Heartworm Disease in Dogs Once the decision to treat has been made, a treatment protocol must be determined. Ivermectin, which is an arsenic compound, must be injected into the lumbar muscle of the infected dog, and because it is injected into the body of the infected dog, the potential for toxicity exists. One of the major complicating factors with treating heartworm disease in dogs is that as the adult heartworms in the heart begin to die off, they can cause emboli to the lungs, leading to damage within the lung tissue. This complication can be quite serious and even fatal. Severely restricted exercise is the primary technique used to combat this complication and usually means cage restriction for many weeks for the infected dog during the course of the treatment for heartworm disease. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THESE DESERVING DOGS. |