I knew some people on another board that have gone through heartworm treatment with foster dogs, so I asked them for any tips/advice for your friend. This is what they had to say:

1)"Well, with other breeds, some vets will recommend for a light positive you keep them on Heartgard for a year or two, til they test negative, rather than put them through the treatment. Border collies can't take Heartgard though, and I've not heard of vets recommending any other preventatives for that.

There is a treatment called WormFree that is all natural (but doesn't contain wormwood), and is supposed to be a lot more gentle than the traditional treatment. www.ambertech.com is the website, I think. I have some but haven't had a HW positive dog to use as a guinnea pig. It's cheap, and made by the makers of Parvaid (which does work). I'm not personally endorsing it since I don't know anyone personally who's tried it. Just a possibility.

If the dog is young and healthy, treatment will probably go very easily. It's crucial to keep her still, which will probably be a challenge with a border collie. A crate is a necessary tool.

My doberman-who was my husband's before we got married-was treated for HW. He didn't feel good for a few weeks but he was fine. I had one foster, an older, out of shape sheltie, we treated. He didn't make it. So I guess my experiences are the two extremes."



2)"My current foster recently underwent heartworm treatments while in my care. It sucks. But then, I don't do particularly well when they hurt and don't feel good. Keeping them quiet really is key. Jada was well into her treatment, had already had the final (oral) dose, and I thought we were pretty well out of the woods. I took her for a walk, about 2 miles, and she thru an embolis (sp?) when we got home. I thought we were going to lose her. I won't make that mistake again."