What are a dog's chances when infeceted with heartworm?

Question

I found a dog running down the middle of the road. I took the time to catch him and get him out of the traffic. I already have two dogs and I rent, so I took him to the animal shelter in the hopes that he had a family. Well after five days, no one claimed him and the shelter was going to try and place him in a new hom. Well, he tested heart worm positive. So I get a call saying that they couldn't keep him and I had to come get him by 4 today. Now, remember that this isn't my dog and I already have two... one of thoes two doesn't get on well with other dogs. So now I feel responsible for this dog. What are the costs for treating heartworm... and what are his chances. He seems lethargic, but he isnt' swelling at all. Hopefully that's a good sign.

they called me because I told them to if they had any problems, the dog is a young beagle, and I have a soft spot in my heart for beagles... i wasn't worried about my dogs catching it, they are both on heart worm meds... thanks though for the reassurance

Answer 1

Most dogs infected with heartworm can be successfully treated. The goal of treatment is to kill all adult worms with an adulticide and all microfilariae with a microfilaricide. It is important to try to accomplish this goal with a minimum of harmful effects from drugs and a tolerable degree of complications created by the dying heartworms. Heartworm infected dogs showing no signs or mild signs have a high success rate with treatment. Patients with evidence of more severe heartworm disease can be successfully treated, but the possibility of complications and mortality are greater. The presence of severe heartworm disease within a patient in addition to the presence of other life-threatening diseases may prevent treatment for heartworm infection. You do have a kind heart good luck in what you decide.

Answer 2

Wikipedia offers this about heart worm treatment: "Treatment is highly efficacious if the disease is diagnosed early in the disease process. Before the worms can be treated, however, the dog must be evaluated for good heart, liver, and kidney function to ensure the animal can survive the treatment. Any insufficiencies in these organs must be dealt with first, before treatment, as the eradication process can be taxing on organ function. Usually the adult worms are killed with an arsenic-based compound. The currently recommended compound, melarsomine dihydrochloride, is marketed under the brand name Immiticide. It has a greater efficacy and fewer side effects than previous formulation (thiacetarsamide sodium, sold as Caparsolate) which makes it a safer alternative for dogs with late-stage infestations.

After treatment, the dog must rest (restricted exercise) for several weeks so as to give its body sufficient time to absorb the dead worms without ill effect. Otherwise, when the dog is under exertion, dead worms may break loose and travel to the lungs, potentially causing respiratory failure and death. According to the American Heartworm Society, use of aspirin in dogs infected with heartworms is no longer recommended due to a lack of evidence of clinical benefit, and may be contraindicated. It had previously been recommended for its effects on platelet adhesion and reduction of vascular damage caused by the heartworms.

The course of treatment is not completed until several weeks later when the microfilariae are dealt with in a separate course of treatment. Once heartworm tests come back negative, the treatment is considered a success.

Surgical removal of the adult heartworms is also a treatment that may be indicated, especially in advanced cases with substantial heart involvement."

If you are serious about saving this dog and finding him a home, talk to the vet who administered the test. It is hard to say how a stray dog in a new situation would be able to deal with the treatment.

Answer 3

It is very unlikely your dogs can cat heartworm from this dog.
I find it strange why they called you. Was it because your the one who brought it to the shelter? Why does this make it your responsibility. Your heart is in the right place but sounds to me like your booked full.
Heartwoom treatment is expensive and depending on how bad the dog has it it may not make it through the treatment. The only way to know is through your vet. I'd give them a call and see exactly how expensive it is and if the dog even has a chance of recovery durring or even through the treatment.

Looks like your have some soul searching to do. I wish the very best.

Answer 4

What kind of shelter did you take him to?? I have NEVER heard of a shelter doing something like that, and I volunteer at one. Shelters are there to take in homeless pets and find them families but before they do that, they get them to good health. Including vaccines and treatments. Heartworm is common and one of the biggest treatments they are given. It only takes some medication and they're gone. If they are left too long, it can cause death. Treatment isn't even expensive. I would contact another shelter because they cannot possibly expect you to come get a dog that you found and did the responsible thing by taking it in. I would question that whole thing! Bless your heart for trying to help this dog!

Answer 5

seem up the slow Kill attitude to eliminating heartworm. It contains giving the dogs a 2 week dose of Doxycycline, an antibiotic from the vet, and then Heartguard for about 6 months. it really is slower than the vet's treatment. that is way less expensive than the vet's treatment. because it does no longer kill off all the worms quickly, you do not ought to limit the dogs. they could run and play as favourite. It kill the worms off slowly. of route, the worms, till they're all killed off will proceed to do heart harm. yet, that is a safer treatment for the dogs.

Answer 6

In order for this dog to give heartworms to your dogs, a mosquito would have to bite the infected dog then bite your dogs. Hopefully, your dogs are on preventative medicine anyway.

The cost of treatment and his chances depend on how severe the infection is. Heartworm treatment can be VERY expensive if the infection is severe.

You may want to contace local rescues, breed specific ones if you can guess what type of dog he may be, and ask if they would take a heartworm positive dog for treatment.

Good luck!

Answer 7

You are not responsible for this dog. You first responsibility needs to be to your current animals
Depending on how advanced the case of Heartworm is it can be very costly to treat.

Answer 8

one of my dogs has heart worms we took her to the vet and he said it would be like 500 dollars for the surgery to get them removed. But there was another option they can give them some medicine that will keep them from spreading but i am not sure on the price.

Answer 9

you have a good kind heart but i would seriously rethink picking that dog up. i dont know how transferable heart disease is between dogs but personally i wouldnt take the chance at infecting my lil one!