LD is Heartworm Positive

[pepper636]

LD got neutered and microchipped yesterday. When I picked him up in the afternoon they told me he was heartworm positive. I have never had a dog with this problem. They told me to wait a week to begin treatment so he could recover from his surgery. The treatment is an injection in his back and then another injection 24 hours later. He has to stay at the vet from next Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon. Then a recheck in a week. The vet said his blood work was excellent and his heart and lungs sounded good so they felt he would be OK. She said they had never lost a dog there yet.

I am still worried though. He's such a happy little guy, I hate to see him going through all this.

Can anyone let me know what to expect? I know I have to keep him quiet but that really shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for any insight you can provide me with so when it happens I won't be like - WHAT IS HAPPENING?

[Stenograsaurus]

Pepper, I am so sorry that you have to deal with this on top of everything else you've been dealt this year. I have never experienced heartworm treatment so I can't tell you anythying about it. I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you and praying for LD.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Oh Pepper! I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. All I know about the treatment is that it is 2 shots like you said one following the other after 24 hours. Quanzhan is going through HW treatment with Zack. Maybe she can offer more advice.

Just know that you and LD will be in my thoughts. I hope it goes well. Treating this is the best thing you can do for LD now. Be strong!

[Albea]

Pepper - I'm so sorry LD has to go through this. :( I'm sure he will recover because the treatment is very effective. Many of the pups that come to Yankee Golden Retriver Rescue have heartworm and they are treated very successfully before they are ready for adoption.
The best thing against heartworm is prevention. Ask your vet about Heartgard or any other medication he can recommend. The disease is transmitted by mosquitos and since the weather has been so warm until now, it's possible that there are still mosquitos around where you live.
We'll keep LD in our thoughts, and we send him many good wishes for a quick recovery. :)

[quanzhan]

Believe me, it is very hard on our furbabies. It is very painful procedure, especially LD just had some other things done. Poor baby.
I am so sorry LD has to go through this. I wish nobody has to experience this.
My Zack is half way through, he is going to have his treatment partII tomorrow ( I am very nervours about it). the reactions to the treatment are different, they all look very miserable after the treatment - they move very slowly, sometimes they trembling. my Zack had very bad appetite for 4 to 5 days - but I hand fed him Can food and home made chicken pasta. He could not walk to upstairs, so I slept on the floor for almost the whole month to make sure he is OK(Zack had terrible nose bleeds 2 weeks after the treatment - but it was not related to the treatment). But i think he actually feel much better after a week or so.
I am not really sure you should start next week, since he just be neutored(sp??)
But good luck with the treatment, I am really sorry for you and LD, I wish you dont have to go through this - but please keep me updated if you decide to go ahead (since he is so healthy). Oh,another thing, keep the room temperature cool and keep LD very quiet.
Here are some link, I really think it will help you to know what to expect. http://www.placervillevet.com/canine%20heartworm.htm#canine%20symptoms http://www.vetinfo.com/dhwtreat.html#Heartworm%20disease%20and%20treatmen t http://www.golden-retriever.com/heartwrm.html

best wish and big hugs from us

[tatsxxx11]

So sorry Diane!! Oh, poor pup. Albea and Quanzhan have given you great info. and links. I am not too familiar with the treatment procedure myself. Gratefully, the vet sounds very positive. We will all being thinking of you and LD and sending prayers till his course of treatment is completed.

[Sudilar]

So sorry about LD! I've heard that you have to keep him real quiet during the treatment. That will probably be very difficult. Do you have a kennel for him? Good luck and you'll be in my prayers!

[Karen]

Our thoughts will be with both you and LD - I bet the treatment will work fine, because he's a happy pup living in a loving home, and we all know that having a positive attitude really helps the medicine work! Give him a tummy skritch for me!

[KYS]

Very sorry to hear about LD,
We'll be thinking of him for
a safe and quick recovery.
Keep us posted when
his treatment starts.

[sammi]

So sorry about LD will say a prayer for him tonight. :(

[shais_mom]

oh dear, how much heartache can one person take? You poor dear.
I have no advice but you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

So sorry to hear about LD, he is such a happy puppy and with all the love he gets, I think he will be fine. Positive thoughts will be coming your way.
Jackie

[lizbud]

Pepper,
Hi, just wondering how LD is doing ?
I've heard from others that the treatment
LD will go through can be pretty rough for
the dog.You & LD are in my thoughts and
prayers....

[pepper636]

I picked LD up yesterday afternoon and he was crying a little when I got into the room but by the time I got him home he was fine. He seems to be laying around a little bit more than usual but that's the way he's supposed to be for a while now. We check for heartworms on 12/19 and if they're gone start him on heartworm medication.

[RachelJ]

Pepper, this has been a roller coaster ride as I have just now read the posts about you finding LD and trying to decide what to do with him and then the heartworm problem. Seems like all that matters to LD is that he can be with you. Now that he is home he will just handle the rest. What a brave boy he is and what a bond you two are going to have after being through this together. I think Bourbon picked this guy out special for you.

[Sudilar]

I think Rachel is right. Bourbon directed LD to you. :) Good luck!

[ktreva52]

Just wanted to say hope everything is okay with LD. Let us know what the vet says on the 19th. You're both in our prayers!

[pepper636]

You know, there is no doubt in my mind that Bourbon directed this stray to me. He knew what a wreck I was and that my puppy was not yet ready to come to me, so he sent LD to my parking lot, next to my car, and I just "happened" to walk up front at that moment and saw him. LD needed a mom and I needed a dog.

[karen israel]

EXACTLY!!!!! Bourbon knew LD needed a loving home with a wonderful mom who would help him get well and love him to pieces! Good ole Bourbon sent you a wonderful Thank You gift. Tails are a-waggin like crazy! ;) Lots of slurps, people hugs and prayers!

[quanzhan]

I am very new on the board, can anyone please tell me what is the story about pepper and LD? Thanks.
Hope LD feels better today.

[pepper636]

If you go to Dog Rescue, my story of LD is under "I have a Predicament and I need your input FAST".

I first found this board when I was searching for an answer for my sick baby Bourbon. Unfortunately, cancer was the answer and I had to send him to the Bridge on October 11. You can read his story here http://petoftheday.com/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000138

[pepper636]

I guess I misunderstood what was going to happen yesterday. I thought he was going to get tested to see if the treatment worked. But no... The vet told me they used to use 3 treatments to kill the heartworms. Then they found they could do one treatment and start on heartworm preventative in about two weeks. The heartworm preventative flushes the system of all the baby worms. He said LD would test positive for heartworms for about six months. Amazing. He said his heart and lungs sounded good so hopefully he's on the road to recovery.

The vet said he seems like such a happy dog. He told him that he was lucky to have found me. Made me blush!

[tatsxxx11]

Who wouldn't be a happy pupster, having found such a wonderful mom and forever home! Glad to hear LD is well on his way to recovery. It should be a very happy Christmas for you both :)

[RachelJ]

LD waslucky to have found you and he knows it. Glad to hear the good report from the vet.

[quanzhan]

pepper, I just read the posts you had posted before, it was very touching. I lost my first pet ever Sandy to the kidney failure last July, I was heartbroken.
And in Nov, I adopted Zack and just like you I had to went through the heartworm treatment with him.
But the good news is, they will get much better. Zack was very quiet and calm when I first got him, now he is heartworm free, he is sooooo much hyper than before. So just wait to see, LD will be even happier 5 weeks from now.
Zack had his first 2 treatments (kill the audlt worms) about 6 weeks ago, and 2 weeks ago went back for another 1 (kill the baby worms, this was much easier on them than the first 2). Yesterday we went to vet for a check up. Most pets are heartworm free after the treatment. then they will start to have the heartworm prevention pills.
Big hugs to LD and you