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Update in OP; Treating young lab for heart worms

Posted on 2/2/16 at 5:41 pm
Posted by tigers win2
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2009
3837 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 5:41 pm
Despite being on preventive heartworm pills all of her life, our 2 1/2 year old lab has heartworms. Anyone every gone through this treatment process?

We've decided we need to do it, but thinking about the fact that she has to stay in a crate/kennel for about 8 weeks other than going for short walks and for the bathroom seems cruel. She is very hyper and will chase a tennis ball all day long. Can't imagine seeing her sit in a kennel day and night.

We're fearful that she may die during the treatment from getting too excited when we walk up with the leash to take her outside.

Anyone got experience with this?


UPDATE
She got the first injection 2 weeks ago. You could tell she didn't feel well for the first say or two. She's on prednisone as part of the process due to some other mite issue. She's pretty much back to acting normal now. Her water consumption has increased tremendously. We bought her the 4 x8 kennel below for her to have some extra room. The shed is air conditioned and we pull he kennel out on nice days.

We also let her out for 5-8 hours a day just so she can lay around. All the neighborhood kids have been to not to play with here or throw balls to her. So far so good. We get the next two injections in 2 weeks. After the next injection we will be less likely to leave her out to lay around as that's when I'd think the clot issue most likely may come into play.



This post was edited on 5/8/16 at 8:56 am
Posted by PTBob
Member since Nov 2010
7070 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 5:47 pm to
We adopted a chihuahua with heart worms. It was tough keeping her calm after treatment but we managed. Actual treatment didn't really effect her at all as far as how she would act. There were several times where she got excited when we would come home and take her outside and she was fine. I guess there is some luck involved.

I've heard it's tougher on larger dogs but don't know if that's true or not.
Posted by Bruneaux
Thibodaux, La
Member since Aug 2015
618 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 5:53 pm to
get a second opinion, I'm not saying your vet got a false positive , but get a second opinion
Posted by VernonPLSUfan
Leesville, La.
Member since Sep 2007
15814 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 6:14 pm to
That treatment will put a hurt on your lab for a day or two. The vet will or should have given you some pain pills for your dog.
Posted by Bullredbf
thibodaux
Member since Feb 2013
901 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 6:30 pm to
Have treated 2 labs for it. Pain in the arse but generally goes smoothly. First make sure u have a kennel that he cant do any running in. Kept mine in a 10x10. U will have to keep him calm so as not to raise his heart rate and embolize worms. U will needs to keep him on a leash to walk and use the bathroom. Itherwise they stay in the kennel. I tjink it was 6 weeks.
Posted by Murtown
OT Ballerville
Member since Sep 2014
1607 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 6:38 pm to
I don't know how I could do it if my lab got heartworms. He's so hyper I just don't see how it would work.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 6:55 pm to
Who told you that a dog has to be kennel for 8 weeks. They are full of shite. Had one treated, kennel for over night, he was good to go the next day.
Posted by Bullredbf
thibodaux
Member since Feb 2013
901 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 7:09 pm to
Time being kenneled depends in how advaced the disease is. If adult works are present then risk of embolism is high so the must be kenneled. If only eggs and juveniles seen on blood smear then single treatment is done.
Posted by tigers win2
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2009
3837 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 7:22 pm to
Thanks for all of the insight. Will try to respond to all here.

This was a second positive test that we just got. I forget the term, but she's in the significanct or highly positive range.

If she sees a leash she goes hyper and starts jumping up and down running around Because she is so excited.

One of you mentioned a 10x10 kennel; that's an idea I will ask about. I got the idea that a travel crate would be needed something only big enough to stand up and move around s little bit. I'll build a 10x10 (or smaller) enclosure if that's an option.

The cost is crazy, but if it makes her well it will be worth it.

Fish- The treatment is 30 days on antibiotics then wait 30 days for them to fully work. Then a shot and crated for 4 weeks. Then 2 shots and an overnight stay at vet and then another 4 weeks in crate. Any excitement can cause heartworms parts to flush through and form blood clots so you have to keep them very calm, cool and rested until worms fully disolve. Don't know how that's possible with such a young and active dog.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
38625 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 7:24 pm to
man i spent 5Gs including intestinal surgery to save a puppy we found at the office a couple years ago. She had heartworms, hookworms, gut worms and every other kind of worm

I have no idea how she survived but she did
hurt my wallet but she was worth it

good luck
Posted by Bullredbf
thibodaux
Member since Feb 2013
901 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 7:27 pm to
Just treated a dog about a minth ago. 1800$ total
Posted by AubieALUMdvm
Member since Oct 2011
11713 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:08 pm to
What heartworm preventative is your dog on?

If you really have given it every month you might be able to get the preventative manufacturer to pay for the heartworm treatment.

Question is - have you missed any months at all?
Posted by TulaneUVA
Member since Jun 2005
25881 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:17 pm to
My GSP had heart worms and my vet gave me two options. The kennel treatment but there's literally no way to keep him calm. Huge risk. They also gave me the slow kill option. It was pills that he had to take every day for a month along with topical heart worm prevention for a year. I am crossing my fingers that on his next visit he is cleared.

I don't know if it's based on the stages of the heart worms as to the treatment protocol but I would certainly ask for alternatives. Especially in pill form and ones that do not require "kenneling"
Posted by Bullredbf
thibodaux
Member since Feb 2013
901 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:20 pm to
I agree with that. i was also given the slow kill option but was advised against it due to high resistance rates.
Posted by hunt66
Member since Aug 2011
1484 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:24 pm to
Had beagle on heart guard. He tested positive for heart worms and HG paid for treatment since records showed him not missing. Also a free year of HG. Tested positive a year later and HG said they were not paying for treatment again so switched. Use topical now for beagle and lab (aviator pic). Did best I could to keep beagle calm during treatment but he still ran around during treatment - no issues.
Posted by WPBTiger
Parts Unknown
Member since Nov 2011
30862 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:35 pm to
I had one go through it. What is up with the crate, I did not have to keep mine in a crate.
Posted by tigers win2
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2009
3837 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:41 pm to
quote:

If you really have given it every month you might be able to get the preventative manufacturer to pay for the heartworm treatment. Question is - have


No, we have never missed. The wife is good about making sure of that.

The only thing the vet could think of is that she may have been undertreated due to weight gain from one office visit to another. She had rapid growth and during one checkup they noted that we need to move up to next size/

We were using Trifexis (sp?)

The vet mentioned that had we been on Advantage multi the entire time they would pay for treatment.
This post was edited on 2/2/16 at 8:43 pm
Posted by tigers win2
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2009
3837 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:45 pm to
quote:

They also gave me the slow kill option. It was pills that he had to take every day for a month along with topical heart worm prevention for a year. I am crossing my fingers that on his next visit he is cleared.


We did that last year. She is now worse/ testing even more positive on the scale.

So our only option is to try to keep her calm and do the kennel treatment.
Posted by offshoretrash
Farmerville, La
Member since Aug 2008
10169 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 8:49 pm to
If you treat your dog with Ivomectin you won't have to worry about heart worms. I have outside dogs that have never had one single heart worm pill. I give them a dose of Ivomectin every few months and they test negative for heart worms.


Curt Ladner that is the son of the man that started the Ladner BMC line give his dogs the same treatment and never has problem with heart worms. He uses the paste I use liquid.
This post was edited on 2/2/16 at 8:51 pm
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 2/2/16 at 9:05 pm to
I don't have any advice for your situation unfortunately.

What I can say is give them ivomec instead of heart guard or any of that other stuff. Ivomec always works.

Eta: not if they already have worms bad though. It will kill the dog when all the dead worms clog their heart up.
This post was edited on 2/2/16 at 9:06 pm
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