This officially stinks...

[Bayou Beagle]

I would like to use stronger words, but I won't. Got a slap test on Jazz last Friday and an independent lab test today, she is positive for heartworms. She tested negative in January.

She's been on Interceptor and Advantix her life. Interceptor started to negotiate with my vet, but his words were he spends 20k a year with them and there are other preventatives (that's an oxymoron word...preventative).

She'll be out about 2 months....I know some of you have gone through this. Any tips or tricks for keeping her calm will be appreciated.

My vet uses a split treatment approach giving a shot 4 weeks later after the first shot. I know many use a different approach. We'll know what stage she's in after the workups on Friday. Its gotta be stage 1 considering her age (15 months) and the jan test.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Jeff

[70 sprig]

Jeff , sorry bud , I ain't gonna sugar coat it for ya , it was hell on spook as jacked up as he is to keep him in a crate 24-7 except to go out back and air on lead twice a day . He got pretty poor looking from loss of muscle mass . Good news is she's young and strong and should pull threw it fine and be back to normal before you know it .

Good luck man , and again , sorry to hear it .

[T-Bone]

Jeff, sorry to hear that. I saw my neighbor go thru it a couple years ago with his lab. I hated to see him open the garage and see him crated up and only let out on lead to do his bizness and them put right back up and shut the garage.

[golfpro]

I am going through the exact same thing as we speak. My female was on heart guard so i think there are problems with all the preventitives. anyway i kept her crated for the first week and have now let her back in her run again. It is so hard for me to make her stay in the box for that long. it just bothers me to keep her cooped up. she however did cough for the first time about a week ago( sounded like when they dig a bird out of water the sound of return water cough if that makes any sence) so i freaked out and took her back in but lungs and heart sound ok. so i know how you feel it just really stinks missing all these test so close to home.

[Z Davis]

Don't feel bad, my 8 year old female who has never tested positive and has been on interceptor just tested positive in August. Vet said it was a light positive and wanted to wait 6 months and test again. Guess we will see in January.

[trooper]

Jeff sorry to here this news. The good news is this to will pass. It will be difficult at first just remember the sooner you start the sooner it will be over. One thing that may cause you some alarm is at the point of injection a small lump may appear . This usually goes away after a few days. Just call your vet if anything out of the ordinary that shows up. Sometimes a cough is there due to the inflamation of the lungs trying to absorb the worms as they die off. Antbiotics should take care of that pretty quick. The fact that he must stay calm for a few weeks is a chance for the two of you to get a closer bond. After a time the vet will give you the ok to do short walks (obedient work) reinforcement of those commands while on lead. Remember just because you can't go and do the marking drills, running the blinds and such does not mean all this time is to be wasted. You just have to look at what you can do instead of what you cannot. Most of the hot weather is passed us and the cold weather has not yet begun ,this will make it easier on the both of you. Remember do the things that you can and forget about the rest. You will soon be doing it all once again. Keep us posted on your progress. I have had two dogs go through this and both are fine now, your's will be too.

[stumpjumper]

Jeff sorry about the news man. Like I told you on the phone just keep her calm as best you can and all will be fine. I know perfectly well what your going thru I was doing the same thing last year this time. Good luck and keep us posted on everything.

[golfpro]

my vet wanted me to do the waiy six months thing too, but my take was if they have em now they will probably have the same number now if now more. we tested positive again after the 6 months and now have 3 more weeks to see if we give another shot or if its getting ready to hunt

[jbs38654]

for the future if you are using heartguard many dogs ( not all) are shallowing the whole treat not getting any of the medicine. start breaking it up into real small pices. not saying this is the cure but you know that the dog is getting the medicine.

[T-Bone]

Jeff sorry to here this news. The good news is this to will pass. It will be difficult at first just remember the sooner you start the sooner it will be over. One thing that may cause you some alarm is at the point of injection a small lump may appear . This usually goes away after a few days. Just call your vet if anything out of the ordinary that shows up. Sometimes a cough is there due to the inflamation of the lungs trying to absorb the worms as they die off. Antbiotics should take care of that pretty quick. The fact that he must stay calm for a few weeks is a chance for the two of you to get a closer bond. After a time the vet will give you the ok to do short walks (obedient work) reinforcement of those commands while on lead. Remember just because you can't go and do the marking drills, running the blinds and such does not mean all this time is to be wasted. You just have to look at what you can do instead of what you cannot. Most of the hot weather is passed us and the cold weather has not yet begun ,this will make it easier on the both of you. Remember do the things that you can and forget about the rest. You will soon be doing it all once again. Keep us posted on your progress. I have had two dogs go through this and both are fine now, your's will be too.

Jeff,
It dont get any better than the above post from Ms Glenda!

[Bayou Beagle]

Thanks for the replies. Jazz goes in tomorrow for the workup (xrays, blood, ect) and the vet will put her on a oral Oxyclene (sp) to kill the parasites that host with the heartworms.

Then Nov 1 she will get first shot and 30 days later 2 sets of shots 24hr apart. then protocal calls for additional 60 day rest, which puts her back end of January. But, he did say that normally after 30 days after last set of shots she could start some stuff.

Glenda....I know we'll have a closer bond, but ask Steve about her bond. Went down to get her in Sep and trained with Steve couple days and he was frustrated that she was so worried that I wasn't running her instead of him. She wouldn't hardly pay him any attention. It was pretty funny.

Of course, I told Steve that actually she had been with him 6.5 months and only with me 2.5 months, but Jazz is a good judge of character

Thanks for the words. Hopefully, see you boys at So Flight in March.

[Doc & Nash]

Jeff I hate that, you are the first person that I know of that used the same combo that I do and have gotten heart worms.

She will be fine and odds are it will most likely make her a better test dog, all you would do is screw her up during Duck Season

[Bayou Beagle]

Jeff I hate that, you are the first person that I know of that used the same combo that I do and have gotten heart worms.

She will be fine and odds are it will most likely make her a better test dog, all you would do is screw her up during Duck Season

Hard to screw up if you don't have ducks...there ain't no ducks in Oklahoma.

I believe she probably had the HW when I got her at 5 months old.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Sounds like someone needs a good lawyer. And another someone needs a good ol fashioned country booty whipping.

And the only way a true duck hunter will mess that dog up will be to not take her hunting. The field trials should just be practice for the real game, not the ultimate goal.

I am certain that Jazz will be just fine if you follow the Doc's order. And if not, then you know who to call. I can file the suit and/or deliver the booty whipping.

[Doc & Nash]

Where the heck was you Sat night when GG was looking for someone to whoop?????