[Bob Scott]

Fancy name for heart worm. Thunder had his yearly physical yesterday. Vet called today and said he had it. Hopefully we caught it before it caused any damage.
I went through it with a dog some 25-30 yrs ago. That was successful!

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Fancy name for heart worm. Thunder had his yearly physical yesterday. Vet called today and said he had it. Hopefully we caught it before it caused any damage.
I went through it with a dog some 25-30 yrs ago. That was successful!

And since he has been on the meds, all I can say (for a reminder to all of us) is: Annual Exams Are a Very Good Thing.

In his condition and at his age, I imagine the vet is extremely optimistic......

 

[Woody Taylor]

Is there a direct cause, or is this just something that happens?

 

[Elly Elsenaar]

I have heard it comes because of a insect? a sandfly(zandvlieg).

What can you do to prevent it?

 

[Mike Schoonbrood]

I also heard it can come from mosquitos...

In the US most people give their dogs "HeartGard" once a month to prevent heartworms...

http://heartgard.us.merial.com/home/

But it sounds like Bobs dog was on a heartworm preventative anyway so it doesn't seem to have helped in his case?

 

[Bob Scott]

The mosquito is the vector.
Yes, Thunder was on HeartGuard. Because he was, the vet told me that the HeartGuard folks will pay for the treatment. Hopefully, that's the case. How I need to prove that, I'm not sure other then the vet has records of my purchasing a 12month supply, one year ago at Thunder's last annual visit.
I will probably change to a different monthly preventative when all this is past.
He's young and strong. I have good hopes for a complete recovery.

 

[Woody Taylor]

Fancy name for heart worm. Thunder had his yearly physical yesterday. Vet called today and said he had it. Hopefully we caught it before it caused any damage.
I went through it with a dog some 25-30 yrs ago. That was successful!

Sorry, missed Bob's "fancy name for heart worm." Late night last night, I thought this was something different and/or weird. Crawling back into my hole now.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Fancy name for heart worm. Thunder had his yearly physical yesterday. Vet called today and said he had it. Hopefully we caught it before it caused any damage.
I went through it with a dog some 25-30 yrs ago. That was successful!

Sorry, missed Bob's "fancy name for heart worm." Late night last night, I thought this was something different and/or weird. Crawling back into my hole now.

Well, you can probably ignore any PMs you might've collected, then. :>D

 

[Connie Sutherland]

The mosquito is the vector.
Yes, Thunder was on HeartGuard. Because he was, the vet told me that the HeartGuard folks will pay for the treatment. Hopefully, that's the case. How I need to prove that, I'm not sure other then the vet has records of my purchasing a 12month supply, one year ago at Thunder's last annual visit.
I will probably change to a different monthly preventative when all this is past.
He's young and strong. I have good hopes for a complete recovery.

I just looked at their guarantee. It certainly appears that since a vet was prescribing it regularly and you were buying it from that vet, it is indeed guaranteed.

 

[Bob Scott]

In discussing this with my vet today, he commented that the manufacturere will probably NOT guarantee the product because they can't control the online products as to production date or shelf life.
Moot point anyway. In looking back at my own records, ther was a gap in treating Thinder in the fall/winter. In this part of the country, it's said that winter treatment isn't necessary because of our hard winters. We've had a couple of really mild ones the past few years.
Connie suggested that I ask the vet to match the online prices. The only reason I've bought them online is price.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

In discussing this with my vet today, he commented that the manufacturere will probably NOT guarantee the product because they can't control the online products as to production date or shelf life.
Moot point anyway. In looking back at my own records, ther was a gap in treating Thinder in the fall/winter. In this part of the country, it's said that winter treatment isn't necessary because of our hard winters. We've had a couple of really mild ones the past few years.
Connie suggested that I ask the vet to match the online prices. The only reason I've bought them online is price.

Let me suggest this to everyone: Ask your vet to match online prices.

The vet med houses claim that web sources sometimes carry outdated or even counterfeit products (which might well be exaggerated by the vet med houses, but what do I know?).

My own vet said to me when I mentioned getting products online that she would match web prices if I printed out the page with the date and price.

When I told people at my club this, several asked their vets about it and were told the same thing.

Naturally, the vet doesn't have a big sign in the waiting room about it, but I've discovered that it's common practice.

 

[Nancy Jocoy]

Bob, I had the same thing happen to a dog years ago and I don't miss a lick anymore. One silly month in the winter was what it took.

My vet said the same thing about price matching

I have been giving Interceptor for several years and get an annual check anyway but no issues ...

I think it is more forgiving on scheduling mishaps plus the fact that my dogs tend to sample (if I don't get to them quick enough) from other critters leavings in the woods.......and farm animals.....and it treats a host of intestinal worms.

 

[Sarah Hall]

HW TX (treatment) is a pretty easy thing nowadays, the hardest part will be keeping Thunder quiet and calm during the tx. Many hospitals I worked at simply offered the owner to board the dog (at a TINY discount) during the treatments. Obviously (and intelligently) the owner opted out of this offer. Since there are between 4-5 treatments, boarding costs and the stress on the dog will be more than you bargained for.

 

[Al Curbow]

Are you supposed to run a second test to make sure in a heartworm situation?. Sorry about your dog Bob, hope he gets better quick,
AL

 

[Bob Scott]

Thanks for all the support everyone!
Thunder will definately be staying home. Being retired, there ain't no way I could handle boarding him during treatment. Luckily I'm only 5 mins from the vet. He's usually pretty calm when he's in the house for an hour or so in the evening. We'll see when he spends the whole day/night. Nightime around here is when all the action is. Hope the wrong neighbors don't miss his "whupa$$" bark! Shotgun and 00 ready at the back door. :wink:
I just got back from the vet for his second blood test. They told me it was to eliminate any false positive from the first test. Still, another $130. Better get used to that. :roll:
Because of the weekend, it looks like Monday we'll start treatment.

 

[Carol Silrum]

Hi Bob,
So sorry to hear about Thunder. Good luck keeping him quiet in the house. Maybe a big bone would help!

Boy those vet bills can eat you up. We just went through $4,000 in tests for my Mom's cat!!! Ouch! That is more than a 1/3 of her annual income! Good thing she lives with us and can afford it.

Hope all goes well for you.

~Carol

 

[susan tuck]

Bob, so sorry to hear about Thunder. He is such a young, strong dog, & with the way you care for your dogs, I would be surprised if he didn't make a full recovery. I myself, use Revolution for the dog.

 

[Bob Scott]

Tonight was my first night at training without Thunder since he was 12 wks old. It sucked!
Now I just have to control myself and not run the poor Presa pup in the ground. Everyone at training tells me I NEED two dog to keep up with my ADHD.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Tonight was my first night at training without Thunder since he was 12 wks old. It sucked!
Now I just have to control myself and not run the poor Presa pup in the ground. Everyone at training tells me I NEED two dog to keep up with my ADHD.

You're right: the tough part is keepin' them quiet.

 

[Bob Scott]

Treatment starts Monday. Two days. One shot each day. Best part is only 4 weeks recovery time.
Monday, I'll also set up appointments for the two old terriers to be tested. They were on the same schedule! :roll: