Took my 4-month dog to the vet yesterday for her last set of puppy shots and she received her first heartworm tablet (Heartguard Plus). This morning in her stool I thought she ate a rubberband. Something beige was in it and wasn't sure what it was. I bagged it and it's now in the refrigerator to go to the vet for identification. As I examined the contents of the baggie, I see there is more than one and one moved. Ewww! Yuck! I have never seen one of these before so I am sick to my stomache that I even have to deal with this and my baby has worms.
My question is do I really need to take it in because the Heartguard Plus is supposed to deworm the host. My conscience says do it anyway just to be sure what she has. $$$$ already spent yesterday. lol.
Sandy Moore Webboard User Reg: 07-25-2006
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Definitely take it in. You shouldn't be charged for a vet visit, just a fecal sample.
I guess vets figure young pups don't yet have heartworm cause they readily seem to give Heartguard without taking a blood sample first to check for heartworms. Maybe they're right, I don't know, but I know that in an adult dog, you don't give Heartguard before checking for heartworms as it could be fatal.
I called the vet's office early this morning and I was told the Heartguard was doing it's job and it wasn't necessary to bring in the sample. I find it interesting that I had a fecal test done 2 months ago when I brought her home and her test came back negative. So how could these worms become so large in such a short time? I'm not really sure if I really want to know that answer. This is really a gross subject. lol.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: Denise Hau
I find it interesting that I had a fecal test done 2 months ago when I brought her home and her test came back negative. So how could these worms become so large in such a short time?
Toxascaris leonina is consumed as second-stage larvae that mature in the intestine in 2-3 months.
Heartworm tablets are a retro-active medicine. They work by killing any heartworms the dog already has. It takes months before the heartworms become dangerous. This is why puppies aren't given a blood test- they aren't old enough for the worms to have become dangerous, if they had them. It takes six months for a dog with heartworms to test positive for them. So - puppies are not at risk.
Giving heartworm "preventative" to a dog with MATURE heartworms is very dangerous and could be fatal.
I find it interesting that I had a fecal test done 2 months ago when I brought her home and her test came back negative. So how could these worms become so large in such a short time?
Toxascaris leonina is consumed as second-stage larvae that mature in the intestine in 2-3 months.
How are they consumed? I mean where would she pick it up? Grass or feces? Both? Ewww.
Those pictures are fantastic, still gross. haha. They look like what I found. lol. Just don't understand how she ended up with them because the breeder treated the litter more than once for worms and I had the pup immediately checked when I brought her home and the test came back negative.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: Denise Hau
Those pictures are fantastic, still gross. haha. They look like what I found. lol. Just don't understand how she ended up with them because the breeder treated the litter more than once for worms and I had the pup immediately checked when I brought her home and the test came back negative.
Two months (2-3) after a negative.... that's all it takes for the cycle.
(That was good photography. But.... I don't know about something to hang on a wall.....)
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Worms After Getting Heartguard Plus
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