Treatment for heartworm can cause serious complications for your pet's health and can be potentially toxic to the dog's body. Many dogs experience soreness and swelling at the site of their injections . The most severe side effects are related to a large number of worms suddenly dying.
What are the side effects of heartworm shot?
Allergic symptoms, including hives, itching, and facial swelling , are the most common negative side effects. Severe allergic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and collapse, are less common and may occur within the first hour after ProHeart 6 is injected.
Can heartworm affect kidneys?
Many dogs have advanced heartworm disease at the time they are diagnosed. This means that the heartworms have been present long enough to cause substantial damage to the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, and liver .
What happens when a dog dies from heartworms?
Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage. Left untreated it results in death in pets, mainly dogs, cats, and ferrets .
Is my dog too old for heartworm treatment?
There are oral tablets or chews, topicals, and even injectable options to suit each pet and pet parent's needs. Remember this disease is 100 % preventable. The best treatment for heartworm disease is prevention no matter your pet's age !
Does heartworm medicine have side effects?
Oral Heartworm Medications
There are rarely side effects, if given at the proper dosage, but some dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or incoordination . In the case of an allergic response to the heartworm medication, a dog may experience itching, hives, swelling of the face, or even seizures or shock.
How long can a dog live after heartworm treatment?
My dog was treated for heartworm 4 months ago and his heartworm test is still positive. What does this mean? After treating a dog with melarsomine injections, adult worms may continue to die for more than a month following this treatment.
Does heartworm cause permanent damage?
Even if heartworm infection is treated, we all know it does serious, permanent damage to the body . This in-depth look at that damage will renew your commitment to consistent prevention recommendations for your veterinary patients.
What is the life cycle of heartworm?
Under ideal conditions, the entire life cycle (microfilaria to mature adult) takes 184 to 210 days . Because only mature adults are capable of reproduction, dogs do not typically become microfilaremic for 6 to 8 months after initial infection. Adult heartworms typically live for up to 5 years in dogs.
Can my dog jump on the couch after heartworm treatment?
There is no reason to allow running, jumping, or other physical activity at any time for 8 weeks after the start of the injectable heartworm adulticide treatment .
What is dirofilaria disease?
Dirofilaria are long, thin parasitic roundworms that infect a variety of mammals . Infection is transmitted by mosquito bites. There are many species of Dirofilaria, but human infection is caused most commonly by three species, D. immitis, D. repens, and D.
Does heartworm treatment shorten a dog's life?
This treatment does not actually kill the worms, however it does decrease their lifespan ; keep in mind, however, that the average heartworm can live six years, so shortening that lifespan could still mean your dog having a heartworm infection for four more years.
Are heartworm shots necessary for dogs?
One of the most common questions heard by our veterinarians during an annual wellness exam is, “Does my pet really need heartworm prevention?” To put it simply: yes! Even if your pet is considered “indoors-only,” all cats and dogs should be on a heartworm prevention medication .
How long does heartworm injection last?
Facts: The yearly heartworm injection (Proheart SR12) is an annual needle that lasts for a full twelve months . In growing puppies, a couple of boosters are required (one at 12 weeks of age, another at 6 months, and then again around 12 months of age) but after this, the injection is yearly.
What is the safest heartworm medicine for dogs?
The two most common (and generally considered safe) heartworm preventative ingredients used today are ivermectin (used in Heartgard by Merial, and other products) and milbemycin oxime (used in Interceptor by Novartis) .
What is the success rate of heartworm treatment?
A new drug is available that does not have as many side effects, allowing successful treatment of more than 95% of dogs with heartworms. Many dogs have advanced heartworm disease at the time they are diagnosed.
How often should I give my dog heartworm medicine?
However, due to the heartworm life-cycle, it is likely that giving the medication every 45 to 60 days , rather than every 30 days, will allow immature heartworms to develop into adult heartworms. In other words, heartworm prevention medication is not effective when given every 45 to 60 days.
Should I give my 13 year old dog heartworm medicine?
Your senior dog needs a year-round medicine to prevent intestinal parasites , which are found in your dog's feces and can be transmitted to humans, so talk to your veterinarian about how to keep everyone in your home protected. Keep your senior dog's heartworm preventive as well as flea and tick control updated.
What is melarsomine injection?
We recommend treating adult heartworm (HW) infections with 3 injections of a drug called melarsomine. This treatment kills the adult heartworms quickly and reduces the amount of damage that they do to the heart and lungs . Heartworm treatment can have significant side effects, and potentially even death.
How many shots are given for heartworm treatment?
Treatment Requires a Vet's Help
Once a positive test is confirmed, our veterinarians (in alignment with the American Heartworm Society) recommend treating adult heartworm infections with 3 treatments (injections) of a drug called melarsomine.
What happens if a dog eats too much heartworm medicine?
Toxicity can occur if a dog is given an excessive dose of the medication (10 to 20 times the recommended dose). Additionally, certain dogs are genetically hypersensitive to the medication. In these dogs, ivermectin can pass directly to the brain and be toxic or even lethal .
Is heartworm medication toxic?
The treatment for heartworm disease is not easy on the dog or on the owner's pocket book. Treatment can be potentially toxic to the dog's body and can cause serious complications, such as life-threatening blood clots to the dog's lungs.
What are the side effects of Heartgard Plus?
The following adverse reactions have been reported following the use of HEARTGARD: Depression/lethargy, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, mydriasis, ataxia, staggering, convulsions and hypersalivation .
Are heartworm injections painful?
The only product currently available for the treatment of adult heartworms is melarsomine dihydrochloride (immiticide). During treatment, the patient receives an intramuscular injection deep in the lower back muscles. This is a painful injection and it is common for the patient to be quite sore at home afterwards .
