please wish Chloe luck

[Doglover1988]

My "niece" a black Lab Chloe, who you may remember, was diagnosed with heartworms today. She is at the vet getting treated. Please wish her luck and a speedy recovery. She isn't the youngest dog she is about 7 years old. My sister is very upset because is her first dog and her baby.

[Rivsky]

Fingers crossed they're able to treat Chloe and she's back home again soon.

[Shmee]

Sigh.... Poor girl.. Wishing her well from NJ. Hopefully they'll put her on a heartworm regimen after this.

Goodluck Chloe!

-Shmee

[calgal]

That is nasty stuff and the cure can be very hard on them. I do hope all turns out for the best. I feel so sorry for that baby!

[Dangels]

Aww, poor girl! I wish Chloe the very best!

[Swiftwind]

I hope everything went smoothly for Chloe. Any updates?

[Doglover1988]

Thanks everyone! Yes I got an update yesterday. Chloe is back home. I was wrong before she went to the vet on Monday and got to come home Friday. My sister said she is very sore and pitiful right now. I feel so bad for her. Her heartworm burdon was not bad. They said between stage 1 and 2 (there are 4 stages). She has to go back in in 30 days for her second round of shots. She is really not herself right now she is very weak and slow. Thats a good thing right now because she needs to be "still" for a month. I just cannot imagine her being still though when she gets to feeling better, she is a typical lab she is go go go all the time.

[Swiftwind]

It's nice to hear that her heartworm condition wasn't too serious, and that everything went well! All dogs seem to feel sorry for themselves after a visit at the vet!

[Doglover1988]

Thank you. Chloe is in extreme pain right now she recieved 4 shots in her back muscles so she is very weak.

Here is what they do..

The only product currently available for the treatment of adult heartworms is melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide® by Merial). If you follow the manufacturer's recommendations, treatment can be done in two doses or three doses depending on the class of infection. Most universities, however, opt to treat all patients with the three-dose protocol as it creates a more gradual kill of the adult worms, which is safer in terms of embolism and shock.

The patient receives an intramuscular injection deeply in the lower back muscles as shown above. This is a painful injection with a painful substance, and it is common for the patient to be quite sore afterwards at home. Pain medication may be needed. Be careful of the injection site as it may hurt enough to cause a dog to bite. An abscess may form at the site, which requires use of warm compresses. Approximately 30% of dogs experience some sort of reaction at the injection site that resolves in 1 to 4 weeks. Some dogs develop a permanent firm lump at the site of injection.

In the two-dose protocol, the dog receives a second injection the next day on the opposite side of the lower back. In the three-dose protocol, the dog comes back one month later for two doses 24 hours apart (the first dose represents an introductory treatment to kill some of the more sensitive worms.) Keep in mind, too many worms dying at once creates circulatory shock.

After treatment, the patient must be strictly confined for one month following the final treatment. No walks, no running around. The dog must live the indoor life. The reason for this is that embolism to some degree is inevitable and it is important to minimize embolism-related problems. Exercise increases heart rate and oxygen demand and we need the heart to rest during this recovery period.

[Swiftwind]

Oh that doesn't sound nice at all! At least she'll be good in the long run though.

[Dangels]

I'm glad that Chloe's heartworm wasn't too serious. It sounds like her treatment is going to be very nasty, but hopefully she will make a full recovery. The poor girl. She will be in my thoughts and prayers....

Best of luck!

[IceyBlueSibes]

One of our fosters was treated for heartworms, so I know what you're going through. It can be very painful for them. The first shot our corgi recieved, she was very uncomfortable the first night to the point of shaking and becoming fevered.

Be sure to assure your sister to keep her calm at ALL times during the 30 day treatment because the risk of that is when the worms are dieing, a segment can break off and clog one of her arteries, causing her to have a stroke.

Wishing her the best of luck. It's a nasty treatment, but it will go faster than you think.

[Doggedly Determined]

good luck. hope things have worked out.