Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
Offline
With an actual case? Not personally -- only helping to raise funds to treat positive Katrina dogs.
Mary Strauss has written a very good overview of the three common protocols, and it's pretty clear that the level of infestation, the activity level of the dog, and other factors must be weighed when the choice is made.
Personally, from reading up on HW, I would probably also not choose slow-kill (Heartguard) to treat a positive working dog in otherwise good health and a moderate-to-heavy infestation; I'm with David Frost.
Again, it seems to be an individual decision, case-by-case, I think.
QUOTE: Although this method is gentler than the use of Immiticide, the danger from the dying worms is still present, and for a much longer period. A recent Italian study showed that pet dogs (as opposed to the caged laboratory dogs this method had been tested on before) did get pulmonary emboli and some of the dogs died of it. The more active the dog, the higher the risk. ... In addition, damage is being done to the arteries leading to the heart, and possibly to other areas of the body due to inflammation and immune response as long as the adult worms are present in the body. Most vets recommend using the fast kill method to treat heartworms, unless the dog’s health will not permit it or the owners cannot afford it. In those cases, or in the case of a very mild infection, the slow kill method may be used instead. END
Also,
QUOTE: Although heartworm treatment can be dangerous, so are the heartworms themselves. Adult heartworms are large, growing up to 12 inches in length and living as long as five years. They can plug up the pulmonary arteries, and when the infestation becomes severe, they will start to back up into the heart and eventually fill it. They can cause blood clots, and force the heart to work abnormally hard to pump blood through the clogged arteries. In addition, heartworms cause an extreme inflammatory response in the arteries that can affect other parts of the body, especially the kidneys and liver. ... Treatment for heartworm infection is one area where conventional veterinary medicine offers valuable options. Whether you elect to do the fast-kill method using Immiticide, or the slow-kill method using monthly Heartgard, either is preferable to leaving the dog untreated, or using unproven, alternative methods that may have no effect or even be harmful. ... This is also a situation where steroids and antibiotics can be lifesavers, when used judiciously during treatment. ... The decision of how to treat a heartworm-infected dog is not an easy one, and is best made after consulting with your veterinarian regarding the safest method to use for your dog. END
Mary Strauss is not a rah-rah-chemicals person, and when she writes, I read (as with Christie Keith and Lew Olson).
There is a person on another board I'm on that currently has a dog being treated for HW using a combination of doxycyline and ivermectin. She has a Border Collie that was adopted from a shelter HW+. The dog is several weeks into the treatment and is responding very well.
If you'd like I can try and get an email address for you.
Cameron Feathers Webboard User Reg: 03-11-2008
Posts: 703
Loc: VA
Offline
Connie, thanks for this. It's good stuff.
Mara, if you would please get that info to me I would love it. I want to find out as much as I can before making a decision
When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Re: Experience with Heartworm?
[Re: Cameron Feathers ]
#254884 - 10/17/2009 04:55 PM 
Top
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
