My baby has heartworms! Update in post #18

[kremsh]

I'm just sick about it. I know it's partly my fault because I didn't have her on heartworm prevention....that will never happen again! I was told she is going to have to stay at the vet for a week, no visitation so she doesn't get excited, then home for 3 weeks with weekly followups, lather, rinse repeat. While she is home and for 3 months she will have to stay in a kennel with extremely limited activity so she doesn't get sick. Then they tell me there is a shortage of the medication they use to treat heartworms and only the sickest dogs get immediate treatment. I don't have a problem with that, totally understand.

I'm worried about how I am going to keep a 3 year old 65 pound active dog quiet for 3 months when I've got 2 other rambunctious dogs who she will want to play with. On top of that she sleeps with me every night and is my shadow. I just see her crying all the time and being depressed about being caged up. Has anyone else ever dealt with this? Do I really have to keep her in the kennel 24/7 except for going potty outside? This is so not going to be fun so any advice you can give me about keeping her spirits up and coping with the isolation would be so much appreciated!

[meems]

I'm sorry..it's an awful illness, I hope she gets through it ok...

Put a worn t-shirt in her kennel..I know it wont replace being with you, but it's something..

[kremsh]

That's a good idea, thanks meems! I'm also going to keep the kennel in my room so she can at least see me and I can talk to her, but I know that may make it harder on her but it's better than being in a room with noone.

[crecian]

YES, you MUST keep her calm at all costs...if she gets excited and her heart starts racing the dead heartworms will dislodge from her heart in a clump and kill her instantly...at least that is what the vet told me when my dog went for his heartworm treatment last year. I like you did not have him on preventative medication...didn't know that heartworms are caused by mosquito bites or I would have definately had him on the treatment...afterall, I live in a state that the mosquito is the state bird...I felt just terrible and cried for him and hugged him lots.
Hope your baby feels better soon!

[kremsh]

Yeah, I was told about the heart racing and I'm determined to keep her calm no matter what I have to do! The other dogs may hate me but at least after it's all said and done, they'll still have their playmate. I'm thinking I am going to take a few days of vacation each time she comes home from her week at the vet so I can spend time with her to reassure her. I'm sure she won't be feeling well after they zap her. Do you think I should set up the kennel now and put her in there for periods of time to get used to being "in prison"? I hate to do it since she's never been kennelled but if it helps in the long run I'm willing to try it.

[phinphana]

Wow just reading the title I was sad and curious about baby you know also was so scare but want to learn more anything about baby I got a 9 months old of myself .

You guys actually talked about doggies? its funny I didn't know anything about until I read it I have no pets bet you can tell. Sorry to hear about your baby though.

Phin

[manders13]

i have no advice but your in my thoughts :(

[cspigner28]

My lab had heartworms several years ago. His treatment wasn't horrible. We didn't keep him caged up, and he only had to stay at the vets office one night. Vet said to keep him inside, and no playing walking etc. He doesn't get excited about much though. He just laid around the house for about a month or so, we didn't go on walks as usual or anything, but a word of encouragement, he is 100% fine now!! Now he is just his big goofy self, we go on walks (occasionly, too cold) play fetch (more like throw something, and he runs away with it) He didn't have any complications, or anything from the treatment, tolerated it well. There was one instance, where he got a hair up his butt and decided he was going to go running out of the house, and he went running down the neighborhood, and then all of a sudden fell down. This was a few days before the month was up. He was fine though.

Hope your baby feels better soon!!

[lovelyday1078]

Oh my dog had heartworms two years ago. Its not as horrible as they tell you. I did cry when I dropped her off at the vets and she got the treatment. When I picked her up from the vet she was in the back barking and they didn't acted like that would bother. I did for the next 6 weeks take her out on a leash to potty, no walks, just stay inside and stay calm. You don't need to keep them in a kennel. If you have other dogs that play together you might want to separate them for awhile. Maybe they can visit other family members for that time being.
You have any question please feel free to email me. I know its hard and you feel awful it happened but you both will make it through it!

[kremsh]

Well I went to the vet today to have my other dog tested and talked to them for a while. Since I have 3 dogs that love to play I do have to keep the sick one kennelled while she is having treatment. They don't want her heartrate going too fast because it will make her sicker and the heartworms could cause more damage. They did tell me I don't have to have her in the kennel 24/7 but definitely when I'm not home and she can be out for supervised potty breaks on the leash and then at night when the other dogs aren't around (she sleeps with me). Since she's never been kennelled they recommended I go ahead and set it up and start getting her used to being in there for short periods of time so when she starts treatment it won't be so hard on her. The immitticide (sp) treatment can cause depression so I don't want to make her feel even worse than she already will. I do feel better about it, it's going to be a lot of work but better to be out a little time than lose her. Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement!