Heartworms!

[HighBall]

Hi folks,

I am new to this forum, and fairly new to the world of duck dogs (but not duck hunting). Right now I really need some advice from somebody with experience. My three year old yellow lab just tested positive for heartworms. The rub is that this dog has been on Interceptor since the day I brought him home at eight weeks old. My vet here in Memphis told me that he probably did not swallow one of the pills one month, allowing him to get heartworms. He also told me that I should stop hunting my dog for the rest of the year and let him hospitalize him to treat the heartworms. After treatment he says that I will have to confine the dog for six months.

I really don't like the idea ofputting Cus on the shelf for the rest of the year, but my vet insists that I am putting him in even more danger if I wait. Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks in advance,
Marty

[cdwyer]

Lots of information on here about heartworms, do a search and read what has already been discussed. How sever is the infection? I know guys that have had dogs test positive but didnt let up on training or hunting but did continue to give the monthly pill for up to two years with one dog that had a light positive. Advantage Multi would be my first option before I would ever put a dog through treatment. Would be a 6 month dose of Advantage Multi. I would admin. the interceptor on the first and Advantage Multi on the 15th of every month. That way you still had your gurantee in place with Interceptor if conventional treatment is needed but re-test after 6 months and I bet you will be suprised. Most important thing is to understand the degree of infestation which may require an xray. Lots of people on here have gone through what you are struggling with, some more than once with the same dog. Certainly listen to your vet but seeking out a 2nd opinion is always good. Lee Payne in Oxfrod, Dr. Blackburn in Bartlett, or even the vets at Senatobia Animal Hospital are seeing some amazing things with Advantage Multi.

Good Luck most all of us on here have been through this same thing.

[franny131]

I agree completely with the advice you have just received above. Don't jump to have the dog treated, unless he is already showing lots of symptoms and things are serious. A vet in Corinth said a lab I had just purchased was positive, but not a trusting person myself I elected to wait and just see if symptoms developed. The dog had no symptoms at the time. He told me they could be just small worms - not in the heart but the bloodstream and I could continue my monthly heartworm treatment and everything might work out if I wanted to try that. He said he knew of one guy who had done that with no problems. I suspect the dog didn't have heartworms at all, and that dog was perfectly fine from then on. And the part about the dog missing one pill is suspect too. You can go 8 weeks or so without the pill and still be okay according to my vet, so that covers 2 months. And even then there would only probably be small worms - early stages. So who knows, if it were me I would definitely let another vet check your dog. And I would check around for a recommended vet. Not trying to make anyone who might be a vet offended, but still think it's a good idea. My dogs are now on ivermectin, the vet mixes it with water for me cause I don't trust the heartworm med, particularly heartgard. Heard about too many dogs gettin' worms on it. So if your guy has HWs, it may be failure of the meds, not that he missed "1" pill. The vets retail it, and I'm sure it profitable so I don't think anyone wants to admit that heartgard don't always work!! Good luck and let us know how your dog is doing.

[mtmilste]

I'm going through it right now. Just finished a month of oral antibiotics. Next comes the shot. based on my dogs condition (no physical symptoms) and no heart inflammation I am going to wait until Feb. and hunt her. Be careful with all the advice on the advantage-multi. I am a pharmacist and have a lot of contact with different vets. After asking 5 vets about advantage-multi they all told me that it just causes a false-negative test. Not saying that it may not work for your dog but be careful. If you use it I would definetely request an X-ray at follow up along with the blood test to make sure they are gone.

[Bayou Beagle]

I'm going through it right now. Just finished a month of oral antibiotics. Next comes the shot. based on my dogs condition (no physical symptoms) and no heart inflammation I am going to wait until Feb. and hunt her. Be careful with all the advice on the advantage-multi. I am a pharmacist and have a lot of contact with different vets. After asking 5 vets about advantage-multi they all told me that it just causes a false-negative test. Not saying that it may not work for your dog but be careful. If you use it I would definetely request an X-ray at follow up along with the blood test to make sure they are gone.

Now this is the first I've heard of Advantage Multi causing a false-neg test. Very interesting.

[HighBall]

cdwyer,

I took your advice and did a search of this site, which in turn led me to another. Based on what I found out I am putting off treating my dog for at least a couple of months. I also tried to call J Paul Jackson. It appears that he is the man to talk to on the subject? Left a message and hope he calls back.

Thanks for the advice. Will keep you posted.

[Bayou Beagle]

cdwyer,

I took your advice and did a search of this site, which in turn led me to another. Based on what I found out I am putting off treating my dog for at least a couple of months. I also tried to call J Paul Jackson. It appears that he is the man to talk to on the subject? Left a message and hope he calls back.

Thanks for the advice. Will keep you posted.

IF J. Paul doesn't get back soon, just leave another message that you have 5 dogs for advanced training I recently went on a trip with J. Paul and you would not believe the number of calls he gets, so I could see him missing a return call. Just call back.

Jeff

[HighBall]

Jeff,

he called me back the day after Christmas from a duck blind. We were interupted by shooting several times, so I asked that he call me back after the holidays. Played phone tag a little since I have been out of pocket since.

[bulldog ducker]

My dog tested positive before duck season and my wife and I decided to hunt him with the Dr.s approval. Last week took him back and he tested negative. Go Figure. My advice is do what the vet that you have trusted to take care of you dog thinks is best.

Jimbo

[HighBall]

Spoke to J Paul for over an hour last night. Very nice guy who seemed to know more than my vet about this. I am going to talk to another vet about what he told me before I draw a conclusion. Will keep you posted.