After receiving the first injection, your dog must remain as quiet and inactive as possible for the next
8 weeks
(confine to crate or small room). This may seem unfair, but the alternatives are worse and potentially life-threatening.
How long is crate rest after heartworm treatment?
Rest for
60 days
(ideally in a crate): Rest is the single most important factor to successful heartworm treatment. This means 4 weeks of strict rest for your dog after each melarsomine injection.
Can you walk your dog after heartworm treatment?
Most dogs can be safely leash-walked during the treatment recovery period
and providing appropriate chew toys can help relieve some of that stored up physical energy.
How does a dog feel after heartworm treatment?
Melarsomine injections are often associated with
localized, injection-site swelling and soreness
. These local effects may vary from mild to severe, depending on the patient. Many patients benefit from the administration of pain medication in conjunction with their melarsomine injections.
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
.
Can dog climb stairs after heartworm treatment?
Strict rest is imperative for 6-8 weeks. This means that your pet can be leashed walked outside to urinate and defecated, but must come back inside to rest.
Do not allow your pet to run, jump, climb stairs
, or play rough with other dogs or children.
Why is my dog panting after heartworm treatment?
The injections are given within the muscle and can indeed be uncomfortable, but the inflammation that develops within the days following creates the most discomfort.
Restlessness, panting, trembling and reduced appetite can all be signs that the dog is uncomfortable
.
What percentage of dogs survive heartworm treatment?
What is the treatment? There is some risk involved in treating dogs with heartworms, although fatalities are rare. “A new drug is available that does not have as many side effects, allowing successful treatment of
more than 95%
of dogs with heartworms.”
Why do dogs have to rest during heartworm treatment?
As long as heartworms are in the dog (up to 30 months with the traditional slow-kill protocol) those worms cause damage. Slow-kill protocols also require exercise restriction for the dog. Why? The answer is straight forward:
exercise causes more damage
.
Can dogs live a normal life after heartworm treatment?
Dogs with heartworm disease can live high-quality lives as long as they are given appropriate care
. After completing treatment and following your veterinarian’s recommenda- tions on heartworm disease testing and prevention, the chances of any long-term effects are very low.
What is the success rate of heartworm treatment?
With this new medication,
95%
of dogs with heartworms are now able to be successfully treated. Your dog will also receive treatment to kill juvenile heartworms (microfilaria) either before or after their Melarsomine treatment.
Should I adopt a heartworm positive dog?
Not every aspiring pet owner is equipped to provide the extra care a special-needs pet requires; however,
with proper treatment, heartworm-positive pets can be excellent candidates for adoption
.
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
.
Is coughing normal after heartworm treatment?
Delayed treatment may result in heart failure and/or permanent damage to the liver, lungs, and kidneys with eventual death.
The signs of heartworm disease which you are most likely to notice include coughing, sluggishness, rapid tiring, and labored breathing.
Do dogs get depressed during heartworm treatment?
Reactions may include thromboembolism, dyspnea, coughing, depression, right side heart failure and death
. Dogs should be cage rested following treatment due to possible thromboembolic disease. Post-injection site reactions (e.g., pain, swelling) were the most commonly reported adverse events.
Why do dogs get prednisone after heartworm treatment?
During this treatment your pet will begin taking Prednisone (a steroid)
to help reduce inflammation in the lungs and vessels, caused by the worms before and after they die
. Prednisone also helps reduce the risk of an acute pulmonary embolism (clot) that can cause sudden death.
What should I watch after heartworm treatment?
There may be some
muscle soreness in his/her lower back
as a result of the injections administered in this area for the heartworm treatment. The soreness usually resolves within 3-7 days after the treatment. Please administer the prescribed medication to relieve the discomfort.
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.
What is the average cost of heartworm treatment?
Average Cost of Treatment. The average cost of heartworm treatment for dogs is often
around $1,000
. However, it can range from $500 to $1,100 or even more depending mainly on the size of your dog, veterinary bills, and the stage of the disease.
