If not fatal, how costly is treatment? BTW, this is not my puppy - I'm asking for a friend who recently adopted this puppy and just found today that it has heartworms. She is pretty upset - so I'm just trying to get information for her.
2006-12-04 10:21:49 · 14 answers · asked by paperorplastic 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I agree with the people who said it is impossible for a 3 month old puppy to have heartworms.
It takes seven months from the time a dog is bitten by infected mosquitoes until a blood test can accurately detect the presence of adult female worms.
The mosquito, carrying infective larvae, deposits them in other dogs during blood meals. Larvae develop over 3-6 months and migrate to the right heart. Within 6 months, the larvae develop into adult heartworms that are responsible for the disease process in the heart and lungs. The adult heartworms can live up to 7 years. The adults produce microfilariae, hence completing the life cycle.
Are you sure that it's not hookworms? Why does your friend think her pup has heartworms?
Hookworms, as well, need to be treated, but here's a link to the American Heartworm Association, as well as a link from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine that discusses heartworms.
2006-12-04 11:12:50 · answer #1 · answered by HDB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heartworms are fatal if untreated. I'm not sure of the cost of treatment, but basically what happens is the worms live in the heart and grow at a rapid speed...if no treatment is administered they will cause the heart to stretch and soon it will explode. Sorry to be so graphic, but it is very dangerous! All dogs should be on heartworm preventative!! If your friend adopted the pup from a shelter or humane society, screenings should have been done before the pup was listed as adoptable. Contacting them may be a good thing, they might take care of the meds for your friend. Obviously your pal has taken the pup to a vet, or she wouldn't know it has heartworms. The Vet should have discussed treatment options, usually pills, and cost of treatment. I would contact whomever the dog was adopted from and discuss the problem with them, other animals there are probably infected too. This causes a lot of suffering...Do Not leave it untreated!!!
2006-12-04 18:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by panamared12345 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The puppy has to be older than three mos because it could not have developed heartworms at that age. Check with the Vet about the age of the dog, it has to be older, and ask about the prognosis for treatment.
The cost of treatment depends on the Vet. I would definitely comparison shop because a more expensive Vet does NOT necessarily mean a better quality of Vet.
No Vet is going to tell her that a three mo. old puppy has heartworms.
Somewhere , the information is wrong. Adoption centers guess at age, but I'd say that was a pretty bad guess on their part if they said three mos. old and the dog has heartworms.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/diagnosis_of_heartworm_disease.html
2006-12-04 19:06:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Treatment is a must for Heartworms, and yes it definitely can be fatal. Heartwarms eat away at a puppy's heart, I hope you caught it early enough. To prevent them you can by heartworm treats that you give to them once a month so they won't get them. You can get the shot as well, but the treats I find are A Lot easier. I would take the puppy to a vet immediately.
2006-12-04 18:27:41 · answer #4 · answered by SemperFi3608 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can be fatal if not treated right away or correctly. I would advise you to tell your friend to get the puppy to the vet right away to have it put on meds right away for it. The vet also may give it heartworm pills to help get rid of them. I am not a proffessional but just letting you know what little I know. So, get that puppy to the vet before it is too late.
2006-12-04 18:35:34 · answer #5 · answered by kerrberr95 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are you sure it was heartworms?? I would have that pup retested now, it normally takes 6 months for the microfilariae to be seen in the blood, so if a blood test was done to check for this, it is obviously wrong. Look Here http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/hw.html
"* Heartworms are a parasitic worm (about the diameter of thin spaghetti) that normally live free floating in the right ventricle of the heart and nearby blood vessels.
* The parasites are transmitted from one individual to another by mosquitoes.
* Heartworm is diagnosed with blood tests, and/or X-rays, along with other tests.
* Heartworms are not detectable with the commonly used antigen blood test until they are sexually mature (about 6 months after entering the patient). Female worms must be present for accurate test results. "
2006-12-04 18:31:33 · answer #6 · answered by bear 2 zealand © 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What do we know about it?
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Heartworms are classified as nematodes (roundworms) and are but one of many species of roundworms. The specific roundworm causing heartworm in dogs and cats is known as Dirofilaria immitis.
2006-12-04 18:28:45 · answer #7 · answered by bextersmom97 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure it wasn't HOOKWORMS???? I have never heard of a 3 month old puppy having heartworm. Vets do not even test at that age. There is a 5 month minimum migration time for the larvel heartworm, puppies under 5 months are not even tested, they are just placed on preventitive. A blood test is required for that. A fecal test detects hookworms and other internal parasites.
Get more facts.
2006-12-04 18:23:57 · answer #8 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
did nshe get this puppy from a breeder??? they usually warrantee their puppies.
heartworm is deadly serious. it is caused by mosquito bite to the dog. mosquito carried heart worms--they hook into the puppy's heart and cause serious damage unless they are killed immediately. the cure is deadly poison. the doggie has to be healthy enough to be able to undergo this treatment. take puppy to the vet immediately--vet will tell you exactly how much and what it takes. i am so sorry the puppy had to get this--do you live in the midwest?????
my mom's purebred siberian husky developed this problem in st. louis, looong ago. it was not a happy time. puppy then was about 6-8 months old. she lived to bew 9 years old.
2006-12-04 18:29:03 · answer #9 · answered by z-hag 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
actualy i had this exact proublem the dogs losing weight right there was a shot but it only had a 3% chance of working and it cost around 350.00 at the time i think its went down since then but my puppy was worth it and fortunatly for her she was in the 3% you can ask the vet about this and im sure he can be of help that was at least 5 yrs ago good luck and whatever happens stick to your friend becuse sometimes people treat dogs like humans and get attached and it s like losing your best friend
2006-12-04 22:37:17 · answer #10 · answered by pamela b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋