We recently adopted a dog from the Humane Society that is being treated for Heart-worm. She has slight coughing and sneezing but not much. Her coughing is more noticeable if she has exerted herself too much such as running/playing with child. We were told that she needed to rest to get over it and will also have a follow-up shot for Heart-worm in 2 weeks. I was wondering if it is harmful for her to be outside for an extended period of 2-3 hours a day on an open patio with fenced in yard. I am at home 24-7, however, there are times that I need to run errands and hate to leave her cooped up inside the house. Is it harmful for a dog that is being treated for Heart-worm as long as the temperature outside is moderate (not too cold, not too hot -- An even 65-70 degrees). She seems to like the coolness of the cement to lay on and loves the fresh air and breeze. As long as a child is not outside to play with her, she just lays down and enjoys herself.
Any thoughts on Heart-worm?
2007-02-28 00:23:45 · 5 answers · asked by Time4Tivo 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
NO OMG do not let her play. The worms will lodge in her lungs and she could die!!!
Please talk to the vet you should have been told!!! SHe should be in a crate 24-7. She should no0t be allowed to get heartrate up at all. PLEASE CALL YOUR VET TO EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU!!! NOW!!!
2007-02-28 00:44:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
KUDOS to you for rescuing this dog and taking responsibility. She is a lucky girl to have found you!
If she is coughing , then she is overdoing it. She should just be crated when you are not around to watch her, and inside until the treatment is complete. I would just take her outside on a leash to use the bathroom, then bring her back in. No long walks just yet and no running around the yard.
Just rest.
It would be a good idea to give your vet a call to let them know she is coughing. They may want to see her to just check her out.
Although heartworms can cause them to cough, there are other possibilities as well. Kennel cough is very common in dogs who come from shelters, so there is that possibility as well.
2007-02-28 00:52:06 · answer #2 · answered by tmrvt 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a beagle that aquired heart worm. Not to be fecicious but to let you know how our experience unfolded. You may want to re-think your adoption.
Our beagle began to cough to which we thought she had developed a cold (if that's possible in dogs) or somekind of lung infection/problem. She was 14 at the time.
We took her to our local vet who examined her with intense dedication and his comment was "This pup is pretty ill"! He did not tell us exactly what the deal was except to say she would need some medications and follow-ups which would include some intensive testing. I was abit suspicious as the vet was well in his 70's. Our response was to take her home and see how she reacted to medication.
Within two to three days we noticed no significant improvement and also noticed she began having siezures. We now were becoming quite alarmed at what was going on here.
In all fairness to both ourselves and the dog, I decided to take her to another vet in the area. This vet immediately took the dog and began doing blood work and whatever they generally do "in the back" that you are not witness to. She (the vet) came out and explained to us that the dog appeared to have heart worm. (Appeared to have heart worm? They don't have microscopes in their offices?) What she did not tell us was in what stage of the disease the dog was in. From there she took us on a glorious ride of this test and that test to the tune of $1500 only to have the dog die while in her custody!
I cannot bring myself to believe that neither of these vets knew how very ill this dog was and that she would NEVER survive in her present state!
I do believe that both of these vets (one attempted and the other succeeded) took us for a financial ride knowing well what the outcome was going to be and that their intervention would have no other effect than to enrichen their bank accounts at our suffering and loss! Neither offered any reduction in the bill and condolences were superficial to say the least!
It is in my opinion (I'm not a vet) that heart worm in it's self is a "terminal" disease! Possibly, if caught in the VERY EARLY stages it might be possible to overcome however, when we were able to detect it with coughing and then siezures, that window of opportunity had long expired and then became a window of opportunity for the vets to "clean-up"!
I think you need to confront your veterinarian and get the facts up front. What stage of the disease and what are the dogs likelyhood of recovery? Get some kind of financial cap so as to keep it all on the up and up! Let's face it, America is one big cesspool of corrupt people these days! All the integrity went out the window many years ago!
All I can say is BEWARE!
2007-02-28 01:21:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
If she is still taking treatment for heartworms you need to keep her quiet and with a low activity level until treatments ends. During treatment the dead and dying heartworms are moving through the blood stream. Too much activity can sometimes cause a clot to form which can be fatal.
2007-02-28 00:29:07 · answer #4 · answered by W. 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It should not hurt her to be left outside for short periods of time. When they speek of rest they mean no heavy play or running permitted. As long as shes kept calm she will be fine.
2007-02-28 01:40:17 · answer #5 · answered by gary b 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋