HEARTWORM TREATMENT

If your pet has been tested and was found to be positive for heartworm infestation, we suggest treatment to rid your pet of this life-threatening parasite. At All Creatures, the treatment consists of the following three phases.

Phase 1- Adulticide (destruction of the adult heartworms)

First, we will run lab work (Organ Function Profile and Complete Blood Count) to detect any problems that may need to be addressed before, or along with, Phase 1 of the treatment.

We use an adulticide called IMMITICIDE™, in one of two treatment schedules.

Dogs with MINIMAL symptoms: are given two injections - a first one, then a second shot 24 hours later - in the muscles of the back.
This treament schedule is about 95% effective in eliminating the adult heartworms, but is slightly more likely to result in complications than our other schedule.

Alternative Treatment Schedule: is to give one injection, then wait one month and give the two injections as described above.
This results in a higher percentage killing of the adult heartworms and is less likely to cause complications. However, it is 50% more expensive than the first schedule.

Complications MAY include

Coughing and gagging (when the heartworms begin to die and enter the circulation), and,

Swelling and possibly sterile necrosis (death of some muscle tissue at the injection sites)

Over the next four-six weeks at home, exercise restriction and a good quality diet are essential. As the adult worms begin to die, the body must get rid of them. This is done by the body mounting an inflammatory response to physically erode or break up the worms. This inflammatory response, while necessary to remove the material from the body, is also capable of causing serious damage to the heart and lungs. Also, the pieces of the worms, if broken down too fast, can become lodged in and block blood vessels, causing serious damage. To moderate this response, please observe the following instructions:

Give medications if directed by your vet. Aspirin-containing medications are commonly dispensed. The aspirin has been shown to help prevent clots from forming in the blood vessels of the lungs during the inflammatory reaction.

Strict confinement should be enforced. This means confinement to a small room or area as much as possible. No free exercise, dog shows, hunting or field trials should be allowed for four weeks.

Please report to your veterinarian's office any unusual lack of energy, lack of appetite, cough, fever, vomiting or diarrhea.

Phase 2- Microfilaricide (destruction of the immature heartworms)

This phase of treatment is to kill the immature heartworms circulating throughout the blood stream. This involves the administration of a liquid medication (one oral dose) FOUR WEEKS after Phase 1. No other special instructions are necessary at this point.
We will start him/her on a heartworm preventative program at this time.

Phase 3- Retesting

After the six months have passed, we need to see your pet for one final blood test.

We hope that you will find this information helpful in your quest for better pet care. If you have any questions or comments, please call your veterinarian's office, or feel free to e-mail us.

David E. Hammett, DVM
and the Staff of All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, PC