# Heartworm Positive I've been working with rescues since high school (about 8 years now) and I've never come across a dog that was heartworm positive. Even in the shelter - usually if they are HW+, its immediate death sentence, so I never work with them. I'm considering helping a stray in transition from his shelter t… ## Thread In Health · started by tsukitsune · 17 replies - **Category:** [Health](https://nihonken.org/community/c/health) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-17T23:39:36.000Z I've been working with rescues since high school (about 8 years now) and I've never come across a dog that was heartworm positive. Even in the shelter - usually if they are HW+, its immediate death sentence, so I never work with them. I'm considering helping a stray in transition from his shelter to his forever home, but he's HW+ and currently undergoing treatment. I have these concerns, which I'm going to talk over with my vet tomorrow: 1. Will bringing a dog (from Louisiana) into an area with low to no heartworm issues be a threat to the area? Is it contained since the dog is on treatment? 2. What about my dogs - if he'll be here for some time, will that open susceptibility to my dogs and heartworm? They are on preventatives, and he is undergoing treatment. 3. What does heartworm treatment entail (drug/cost/time wise)? Thanks ## StaticNfuzz · 2009-02-17T23:59:37.000Z This may answer some questions about treatment. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=610 Animals under arsenic or newer treatment to kill adult heartworms will need to be kept quiet for several weeks. No running, jumping, 500's etc. Also the older treatment is painful for many so there most likely be some discomfort....expect the dog to voice it. It's not fun to put a dog through at all, makes you feel horrible but there really isn't much alternative. The course of action will depend on the general health of the pet, age, and stage of the disease . I would talk to your vet about your concerns on transmission. I have not heard of transmission for dog to dog in the same household. Snf ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-18T00:05:04.000Z Thanks SnF! I'm reading that site and the heartworm society site as well. So much info. The dog is 3 years old, a basset/cairn mix (funny, but cute), male who loves other dogs. I'm not sure how effective I'd be in keeping him quiet while my two run circles around him :/ this is blake: ## lindsayt · 2009-02-18T06:21:48.000Z He's so cute! I only had limited dealings with a few heartworm cases (not that common up here). To be honest, one of the dogs was a Katrina dog, older, probably had an underlying metabolic disease before we started treatment but we didn't know the history as it was a rescue. Anyways, she received ivermectin and over several months, just deteriorated to the point of requiring humane euthanasia, sad :(. The other couple of dogs were younger and healthy when they began the treatment (they were also dogs from the southern states), and they fully recovered following ivermectin injections. They would come into the clinic for the intramuscular injections and would sometimes stay for observation or IV fluids during the course of treatment. ## brandon_w (admin) · 2009-02-18T10:28:21.000Z Most people I know who have taken dogs through heartworm treatment keep the dog they are treating completely seperate from their own dogs. Such as always having them in a different room, or keeping them in the basement. I've never heard of it being a lot of fun to do (for human or dog) but worth it in the end. He is a very cute, interesting looking boy. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-18T11:11:04.000Z Yeah, its a really, really tough call. I don't think it would work - living situation wise - with my two and him being out of commission for play. But you say basset and I say HELL YES, so I'm going to exhaust every avenue I can think of before I give up on this guy. Anyone familiar with a basset or cairn or small/medium mixed breed rescue between Louisiana and Rhode Island? ## JessicaRabbit (admin) · 2009-02-18T11:33:18.000Z My neighbor rescues bassets and beagles. I am supposed to help her with some training this week. I will ask her if she knows anyone. She has 3 beagles and a lemon basset and just placed her foster beagle. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-18T11:41:41.000Z Thanks Jess!! The shelter has a transport that bring him to New England (or PA, depending) this weekend, or in 6-8 weeks when his treatment is scheduled to conclude. I'd be more than willing to help house him in transition. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-21T10:43:20.000Z well, we're expecting this boy tomorrow. I'm still having issues getting a local vet to give concrete info - since none have treated it in over 5-10 years. Either way, we just can't wait to meet him. ## Darwin67 · 2009-02-24T13:26:14.000Z Any new news on this guy?? Did he make it there safe and sound??? ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-24T17:37:04.000Z We named him Henson because in person, he looks like a muppet! Henson made it in very early on Sunday morning. He is just wonderful, a lovely boy. He gets along with Tsuki and Kitsune as well as can be expected. He definitely has some terrier in him - lol! He's feisty. And possessive. I'm not sure what I expected, but I'm certain it didn't fully sink in exactly what we were getting ourselves into. We found a vet that is 1/2 hr from us that treated a HW+ dog about a year ago. They are helping us to help Henson, which is a lifesaver. He is estimated to be Stage 1 in the disease. When I spoke with the vet at length yesterday about the disease, the treatment, the recovery, the price, everything.. I just cried. Its such an awful thing. USE the PREVENTATIVES! HW is found in all 50 states, no dog is exempt. And no dog should ever have to go through this. He got his first treatment (shot) today. Its a very powerful medication and really knocked him for a loop. He got a steroid before the shot but it seems to not even be helping with the pain. At all. He's still at the vet's for observation until we can pick him up at 5pm today. He now gets to look forward to being in the crate most of the time for a month until his next injections that are 24hrs apart, then another month of crate. Its just an awful, preventable disease. But this is Henson: From Henson! he got to play with the shibas before his treatment began: ## KFontaine04 · 2009-02-24T17:40:26.000Z Super cute how he plays with the Shiba's and doesn't quite understand the stairs! Hopefully his treatment goes well and he pulls through! ## Calia · 2009-02-24T18:01:34.000Z Oh, poor thing...I hope everything goes well, and he gets another opportunity to play with your pups ## sunyata · 2009-02-24T18:06:11.000Z He is adorable. And seems to be very fiesty! I love how Kitsu and Tsuki just race up the stairs and leave him in the dust. :) I am so sorry that he is HW+, but hopefully he will make it through and live a long, healthy life. Please keep us updated about him! ## Darwin67 · 2009-02-24T18:08:14.000Z Oh, he' is such a cute little pup! What an interesting mix! I'm glad he's in such loving hands, especially with what he is having to deal with. They had a dog on one of the AP shows that was getting treated for HW and I as I watched I was thinking of "Henson"...I think he'll pull through just fine, but you are soooo right...an ounce of prevention is worth far more than a pound of cure...ten fold! Keep us posted, I'm rootin for him! ## brandon_w (admin) · 2009-02-25T10:33:38.000Z He really is adorable, I love wire hair on dogs. We are sending our best wishes for a comfortable treatment from Wisconsin. ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-25T11:49:12.000Z Thank you all for the well wishes. The support from this forum, my family (shocker! they hate what we do), friends from the dog circle, work colleagues, the rescue group that transported him, and our new beautifully awesome vet - its just overwhelming.. and helps more than you know <3 ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2009-02-25T11:52:32.000Z oh! I guess I can give an update, too. He's home, in a lot of pain (he looks so sad, ears down, panting, favoring the hip that was injected..) but he's drinking and pottying so we're grateful for that. He slept a lot since being home and isn't interested in eating anything. He let me give him his pills this AM, and I'm leaving here at noon to go home to check on him. He is still such a sweetheart, though... when we rub his head he'll try to lean on our leg even though he's in pain. We'll get there, one day at a time. He's so worth it. --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)