Heartworm disease is treatable; it
carries a favourable prognosis providing it is diagnosed early and
certain diagnostic tests are performed to see how far advanced the
disease is. We currently recommend doing a blood screen (CBC/ Chemistry
panel) and an x-ray before undergoing heartworm treatment.
To kill the heartworms, an adulticide is
used. There are two adulticides available at the current time: 1)
Immiticide and 2) Caparsolate. We use the latest one, Immiticide,
because it is less toxic to your dog. Your dog will require two
intramuscular injections of Immiticide, twenty-four hours apart. After
this treatment, your dog will go home to convalesce.
At home, your dog needs to be kept quiet
and severely exercise-restricted for 30 days from the time of treatment.
The dead heartworms are decomposed within the heart and vessels; if your
dog is not kept quiet, the lung arteries may become clogged with
heartworm debris causing lung emboli (clots). Treatment side effects may
include increased coughing, coughing up blood, not eating, lethargy and
back pain at the injection sites. Call us if any of these signs occur.
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