Heartworm Treatment for dogs
Heartworm disease in dogs is a very complicated ailment to be treated. The process is very dangerous and expensive due to which most pet owners resort to heartwarm treatments for the dogs. Before knowing about the treatments that are available, it is important to understand the origin of heartworm disease.
Diagnosing Heartworm Disease
When the common symptoms of heart disease have been diagnosed, it is mandatory to treat the disease depending on the severity of the same. Asymptomatic to mild heartworm disease, average or moderate heartworm disease and severe heartworm disease symptoms are the three classes of heartworm symptoms that need to be diagnosed.
Heartworm treatment for dogs
The most effective medication currently to treat heartworm disease in dogs is an injection called Immiticide. It is an arsenic chemical that is injected into the lumbar muscle of the infected dog.
The first stage in using an immiticide is by a series of two injections within a gap of 24 hours. The second stage involves a series of three injections, with the first injection given initially, followed by the second one after 30 days and the third one after 24 hours.
The second option displays a slow kill rate of heartworms, which is more preferred as it results in less damage to the lungs and less risk of complications from treatment. During financial difficulties, the two injection technique is sometimes chosen as a cost effective alternative if the infected dog is part of in first class symptom exhibiting few signs of heartworm disease.
ometimes, other medications are also given along with the Immiticide injections. It is recommended to start treatment with an ivermectin product such as Heartgard before treatment with Immiticide. Another option is to medicate with doxycycline for two months before treatment with Immiticide.
Heartworm Treatment in Dogs Infected with Heartworms
Some dogs might have an environment or physical disability that disables them from going through heartwarm treatment though they are infected. Often these are the dogs which are experiencing class two or class three type of symptoms that are too severe to be clinically treated. When the ailment has become very serious, it is very dangerous to use Immiticide on the infected dog as it is could lead to fatal results. For these dogs, an alternate option is beginning would be a monthly treatment with an ivermectin-based heartworm preventive medicine instead of an injection.
Ivermectin is safer that other heartworm preventive medications because it has less complications in infected dogs. However, heartworm positive dogs should be observed carefully for at least 12 hours after providing the ivermectin heartworm preventive to determine any side effects or allergic reactions.
However, this process can take more than a few weeks to months and the risk of further damage to the dog’s heart exists till you confirm the disappearance of the adult heartworms. Heartwarm treatment can reduce or eradicate heartworms temporarily, but permanent treatment requires caution and care.