OH my GOD!!! my dog has heart worms...Will she die HELP IF YOU ARE A VET!!!PLEASE?

Question

OK MY DOG HAS HEART WORMS AND SHE IS AT THE ANIMAL HOSPITL AND THEY SAID SHE IS DEHIDRATED AND IF ATHE WORMS HAVE MOVE ATO HER LIVER OR KIDNEY THEY CANT TREAT HER...THEY ALSO SAID THAT IF SHE DOESNT SHOW SIGNS OF BETTERNEES TOMMROW IDT WAS UP TO ME IF I WANTED TO PUT HER DOWN..
SHOULD I PUT HER DOWN IF WORST COMES TO WORST.
WILL SHE DIE

Answer 1

This is a critical decision for you and for your dog. Yes, she may die, but sometimes they can recover. Please have this important discussion with the vet caring for your dog. It is not possible for anyone to help you on this site. You MUST speak to your DOG's DOCTOR. I hope your dog survives.

Answer 2

If you can get her to recover enough, treatment may be an option. Without being there, I am not sure what her condition really is. Is there a chance she will come around and not be dehydrated?

Heartworms are killed by a treatment that poisons the worms and kills them before it reaches the point of poisioning and killing the dog. Heartworms also break up into the blood, and this becomes very dangerous to the dog's life as well.

Be sure to inquire about the NON-arsenic treatments available. Many vets will NOT tell you about the non-arsenic treatments, because the arsenic is so much cheaper for them to purchase, and they make a greater profit from the arsenic treatments. The non-arsenic treatments are not quite as hard on the dog, but they are still pretty harsh. They are more expensive for the vet to purchase,and the vet does not have as much profit.

I have had a dog treated for heartworms, and when I was asking around concerning treatment, I was turned away by some vets who only do the arsenic treatment.

Answer 3

Sorry to here the news of your dog. The vet is right if they have progressed that far than the best thing would be to put her down.
I couldnt see letting my best friend be in pain. If they can treat her she may or may not pull out of the treatment. There is a risk even with the treatment she could die. They acually treat heartworm with low doses of Arsenic that kill the worms and are usually coughed up by the dog. Its the actual dead worms that pose the risk to the dog, because the are decomposing.

But by all means dont put her down until you get all the facts from your vet. In extremely severe cases they will not give the dog heartworm treatment. If she is young she may yet pull though.

Answer 4

Hi Alexis,
Look honey, i am not a Vet but i am a wildlife rehab person.. My own dogs have heart worms also, and i know, it is very expensive to have them treated... And it takes time, they give them a poweful poison, that kills the worms,, and the dog has to stay in a quite , area inside preferably for about 2 to 4 weeks..then they administer a 2nd dose ....
Now, what you need to do i will suggest... ok
You dont have to put it down, but how old is the dog?? and can it be nursed back to a healthy weight and then have the treatment...

I hate to have to put animals down, It Sucks big time.. no better way to say it.. but sometimes you have to....
I would ask the Vet, this what i wrote you..and then decide....

Good luck

Answer 5

If it were me, I would tell the doctors to treat her. It is better to treat her and know that you did you best to save her than to just give up and wonder if you did the right thing. But warning, treatment is expensive, most vets will actually work out a payment plan with you if you ask them to, and actually pay it back. If it were my dog, if there was a chance of saving her, money wouldn't be an issue (no, i am not rich by any means but I love my dog very much). Your vet will be able to let you know if there is a possibility of treatment.

PS Having your animals checked regularly and vaccinated is the best preventative. If you decided not to do yearly checks and vaccinations, and notice your animal loosing weight and having their health deteriorate take it to the vet. Animals don't just stop eating and drinking for fun, there is obviously something wrong.

Answer 6

If the heartworm infestation is severe likely the only recourse will be euthanasia.Not every stage of Heartworm infestation can be treated.Depending on the stage and amount of infestation depends on if they can be treated or not. The treatment is very hard on the dog and takes quite a long time in the more heavily infested stages. Recovery is often a slow process. Also treatment, again depending on stage can be very expensive. If it can be treated you MUST follow the vets instructions right to the letter. It is very, very important.
Good luck.


*****Heartworms can NOT be passed on to people!!!!!! Dogs (and cats) get them from infected mosquitoes..people do NOT get them!!! *****

Being UTD on vacciantions have nothing to do with heartworms.To prevent heartworms dogs that live in mosquito areas need to be on a heartworm preventative such as Heartguard. In many areas a dog only needs to be on the preventative from April/May until November in otherp laces they need to be on it year round. In some climates cats also need to be on preventative.

Answer 7

Please make sure that all of your questions have been answered to your satisfaction before making any decisions. Your veterinarians should be your allies in helping you decide what is the best for your pet.

Make sure that you understand heartworm disease and the complications that can arise at different stages of the disease. Has your dog's disease been staged? Have they told you stage 1, stage 2, etc? If not, find out.

Staging the disease can help to determine the best course of action regarding treatment options. Successful treatment of heartworm disease is possible. I have seen stage 3 dogs undergo treatment and live happy lives, so anythng is possible.

Consider the stage of the disease, the treatment options, the age and overall health condition of your dog, any complicating factors, etc. before making a hasty decision. Please have your veterinary staff answer any and all questions that you may have, and if you feel the need, consult a second opinion. Make an informed decision before you make a hasty one.

Best of wishes at this difficult time!

Answer 8

ok first off calm down... this is more common than you think and her recovery depends on a few things. If your dog is young and basically healthy before this that is a good thing. If the worms have moved on get a second opinion before any major decision. If you have an older dog and the worms have moved on I would put them to sleep. it will be painful and they have lived their life and given you the companionship they were put here for. In either case if the worms are localized and have not moved on then go for treatment. It will be expensive and timley and you may have to go for more than one round but IT IS TREATABLE!

Its harder for us to let go of them because our time here is longer than theirs but just like us when they die they watch from above and live in our hearts forever.

Good luck and many blessings and prayers for you and your dog...

Answer 9

I am so very sorry to hear about your dog,,,,, but don't worry too much ( I know, easier said.) About 20+ yrs ago, my childhood dog was diagnosed with heart worms and the vet told my mom that they were bad, strangling her heart and internal organs..... Mindy (my basset) spent about 1 month at the vets under going intensive treatment, she lost lots of weight but eventually regained her youthful attitude.Mind you, this was long before vets promoted heart worm prevention and loads of dogs/cats died every year from this.....

But if worst case scenario does play, and you obviously love your dog, then do put your dog out of his/her misery, but if at all possible be with him/her. I'm sure, she's been a great pet and will need/want you to be with her....and you'll want to be with her too......

wish you and your pet all the best...........

Answer 10

There is treatment for heartworm. It is 2 injections given a day apart in the back muscles. I have never heard of heartworms travelling to the liver or kidneys. Dogs with heartworm won't show improvement without treatmtent. I would recommend getting a second opinion.

Answer 11

I am so sorry about this, It is a real hard choice you have to make. If the vet says that it is the best thing i think you do it. They are eating her from the inside and she is suffering.
You don't want to see your best friend suffer.
It's hard to let go but sometimes you have to make that very difficult choice.
We just put our dog Blacky down on Dec 29th
so i know the pain you are going though.
I will say a little prayer for you and her.
Good luck my dear.