I just adopted a dog and found out it has heartworm...?

Question

I just went to the shelter and adopted a dog.
They do not test it or give it a check up before putting it up for adoption.
So I took it to the vet and it says it has heart worm.

How much does it cost to get all the tests done and the meds...How much did it cost you?

The shelter does not help with the costs.
They are a crappy shelter.

She had the test it was 28.00
And it was positive. And now I have to have all these other tests done...liver, kidney, chest xray...

That is a lot of money and no one is going to help me with the costs.

The shleter makes you sign a paper saying she is as is.

They dont take her back and they dont help with costs.

They don't give any tests before putting her up for adoption. And they make it mandatory to give her the basic shots before she leaves.

But now i have this dog that is infected with heartworm and is going to cost hundreds of dollars to fix and that is depending of if there are no complications and if the worms aren't extreme.

I just dont know what to do.

I have two small children and my husband was just laid off yesterday. So money is tight.

I talked to a rescue and she siad if I ended up taking her back to any shelter they would put her down.

She is a four year old walker hound dog.

Answer 1

I'm a vet tech, and I'm sorry to say that heartworm disease is very expensive to treat. Depending on the size of your dog, I'd ballpark around $1000, possibly up to $1500. It is an awful disease and it is very important that you have your dog treated.

Ask your vet to make you a written estimate of the complete cost--they'll be able to itemize everything for you and explain to you how the treatment works.

I think that you should contact the shelter where he was adopted and see if they can help with the payment or the treatment.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, alot of these people are correct. It could cost anywhere from $200-$1000 to help your poor dog. Don't get discouraged yet, though. Your vet needs to tell you how bad it is and what course of treatment he suggests for the animal. If your dog is under stage 3, it will probably cost under $500 to treat it. I am appalled that a shelter wouldn't do a heartworm test that would cost them $20 to determine a dog's health. That needs to be reported. And no, it is not at all possible that your dog got the heartworm after you adopted it, because it can take up to 6 months after infection for the test to show positive. The shelter is at fault here. That being said, is there any way your vet can work out a payment plan? If not, there are other credit options for pet owners these days that can help with the bills. One is called Care Credit and it can be used for pet bills or human dentistry bills. Please consider all your options before returning this dog to the shelter, as that would be a death sentence.

Answer 3

This is a tough one and a sad situation that the shelter didn't do some kind of medical workup. Must not be a very good shelter. I assume you have become attached to the dog and want to keep it. Tests and treatment could be expensive. Work closely with your vet. He/she can recommend a treatment plan and maybe give you a discount, since you did a wonderful thing by adopting a homeless shelter dog. If you absolutely can't afford it, you could contact one of the animal welfare groups in your area such as the ASPCA or the Humane Society and ask for their help. Try this website: www.help-a-pet.org. Also, go to www.petfinder.com to find some other resources.
Dogs with heartworm are often treated with Ivermectin. This is the main ingredient in Heartgard. However, this is not recommended for breeds such as Collies, Shelties, Aussies, Sheepdogs, and Border Collies or any dog that might be a mix of one of these breeds. It is toxic to them and could kill. DO NOT EVER ATTEMPT ANY TREATMENT ON YOUR OWN without veterinary guidance. Keep in mind too that while the dog is undergoing treatment, it must be kept relatively quiet, because the dying heartworms could cause serious problems. I hope this info helps. Best wishes to you. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. This shelter should be more responsible.

Answer 4

To get rid of the heartworms and do all the tests it will probably cost between $120-250 depending on the results of all the tests. You will want to start by treating the dog for heartworms and you will want to put him on a preventative. It's very strange that a shelter would adopt out as is. Most shelters at a minimum provide testing for heartworms, recieve all vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. You may want to contact the SPCA, animal control, or Humane Society to find out if there are specific guidelines for shelters in your state. It sounds like someone is selling peoples pets or strays for a profit.

Answer 5

It will cost you s pretty shiny penny around the dollar marker of $800+. If you got it from a shelter(state or city funded) than they should have had it tested and treated. If it is a private shelter than you should not have gotten it from a place that does not care for their animals. But, the fact is you did and if it is in the papers you signed to adopt it they will go by what is in there. It should state return, exchange policy and health warranty. Any reputable place will offer a warranty if you take it to the vet within 7 days. After 7 days they are no longer liable because it could have been contracted after adoption.

Good luck and I hope your puppy gets better soon.

Answer 6

Well if she's only 4 years old, and in relatively good health, she can be treated for heartworms and survive.

Decline the extra tests, you know she has them, there's no need to test anything else right now. Just ask for the medication to treat the heartworms.

Maybe you could contact a better shelter in your area and see if you can find any help. There must be a shelter, vet, or animal control office in your area that could give you a hand.

Answer 7

if it is a reputable adoption agency they will treat the dog or help with the costs. Many factors are involved, including the dogs age. Do your research, as the medication the vet palns on using. Although the treatment still can run several hundreds of dollars, the treatments have become safer for the animal and actually do not have as many side effects as there used to be. Good luck.

Answer 8

The test is pretty cheap. About 15 to 20 dollars. The medication (depending on the size of your dog), is 40 to 50 dollars for a 6 month supply.

Answer 9

6/21/2007
Heartwrm Tmnt. 23-44# $250.00
6 pack Heartguard Plus 26-50# $ 37.00

I took both of my dogs today. Both had heartworms. This is what I paid today each.
I have to go back in 3 months for follow up treatment which will be approximately $300.

Answer 10

i would call the shelter and they should be footing the bill for this. obviously you dont want to give up your new dog, but they should have tested for this first. sometimes they either have a vet clinic or they work closely with a vet. i have no idea what it costs, but they should help you out at least. i wish your puppy all the best!