Happy News and Final Heartworm Report

Monday November 16, 2015

Lakota had her final checkup for heartworms yesterday, and I am happy to report that she is heartworm free!  She is a happy and healthy dog.  I really knew this was going to be the case, even before she had the blood test to confirm there were no more heartworms.  She is energetic, eats well, and acts like a normal dog.

Looking back, I am diasppointed in the three different veterinary practices that did not catch the heartworms.  After she was diagnosed, I did a lot of research and realized that each of the veterinarians we took her to should have known to check her for heartworms, despite having had a negative heartworm test at the age of 9 months.  According to the American Heartworm Society (https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics),

• "Puppies under 7 months of age can be started on heartworm prevention without a heartworm test (it takes at least 6 months for a dog to test positive after it has been infected), but should be tested 6 months after your initial visit, tested again 6 months later and yearly after that to ensure they are heartworm-free."

The two regular veterinary practices failed to test again 6 months after the initial visit, which could have prevented Lakota from heartworm disease progression.  We brought her to these vets with symptoms consistent with heartworms.  She had a cough, was not eating well, and had lost weight.  She also would cough or make a funny noise (wheeze?) when we walked her.  I explained all of these symptoms to each vet at the two different practices.  In addition, the emergency vet (the third vet/practice) we took her to during off hours also failed to test her.  They just gave her antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection.  Lesson learned.  Just like with humans, you need to be your own canine healthcare advocate by researching from legitimate sources and speaking up.

HEARTWORM TREATMENT COSTS:

2/15/15 $208
2/22/15 $175
4/15/15 $176
4/15/15 $85 for Heartguard
5/14/15 $176
11/15/15 $63
______________

        $883

To anyone just beginning this heartworm journey, I wish you the best.  It is not an easy one.  In the end, I am very thankful to now have a healthy and happy dog!

Lakota, at 2 years.  A happy and healthy (and spoiled!) dog.

Thanks for reading my blog.  All the best to you and your furry companions.

Lakota Update: Injections are done & the recovery process can begin

On Friday, Lakota had her third and final Melarsomine injection.  I picked her up at 4 pm and she was miserable.  When we got home, she threw up and wouldn't eat.  She moaned most of the night.  I've never had a dog who moaned at all, but since we got Lakota she has moaned when she is tired or laying down after a good run.  It was really sad during the night because she seemed to be moaning in pain.  She didn't want her back or rump touched, so it was obvious it hurt at the injection sites from both Thursday and Friday's injections.

On Saturday, she didn't want to eat her breakfast but seemed a little better.  I decided that it was ok to leave her alone for a couple of hours to go to the gym.  When I got home, I found she had diarrhea all over the family room.  Ugh.  Not fun to clean up.  She had diarrhea outside one more time, and then seemed much more like her self.  Much perkier and generally more happy.  I think she just had a stomach ache and felt better.

Sunday was much better.  She ate both breakfast and dinner, and although she was sleepy, she was definitely much better.  Today she actually took a toy out of her toy basket to play.  The vet said we have 6-8 more weeks of exercise restriction, but I think she is more used to it now.  I really miss walking her (and Bandit) each evening, but I also know in just a couple of months, we will be able to do that again.  Her good health is certainly worth all of the misery of treatment and recovery.

I will update when there are any changes.

Lakota looking out the window on her favorite couch  5/17/15

For now,

Lakota's Mom

Lakota had her second Melarsomine Injection Today

Thursday May 14, 2015

Lakota had her 2nd Melarsomine injection today.  Unlike last time, she is really sick.  She threw up all over our rug when she got home, and is ailing.  She is sluggish, can't move around well, is breathing very heavy, and looks generally miserable.  Her eyes are glassy, and you can tell she is in pain.  She won't eat.  I feel so badly that she is so miserable.  We have to drop her off in the morning for her 3rd injection.  I am worried she will be horribly sick all weekend.

I am planning on staying home with her all weekend, just rubbing her belly and trying to make her comfortable.  My son will be home on Monday, so he can keep an eye on her.  It's been a rough day, so I will keep this short and update after the 3rd injection tomorrow.

Until next time,

Lakota's Mom

Lakota after 2nd injection 5/14/15

Total cost for treatment is now at $820.00

2/15/15 $208
2/22/15 $175
4/15/15 $176
4/15/15 $85 for Heartguard
5/14/15 $176

Lakota Heartworm Treatment Update Week 2 Post Injection

Wednesday will be 2 weeks since Lakota's first Melarsomine injection.  She doing ok.  She spits up or vomits every day, and has lost her appetite.  I have to add treats and rice to her food to get her to eat, but it doesn't always work.  She is not coughing or gagging like I have heard will happen, but she is also not quite herself.  She still has hyper moments, like when I was walking her in our backyard, and our other dog, Bandit, saw something and took off running.  She tried with all her might to run with him.  She squirmed to get out of her collar, but then looked at me and sat down.  I was shocked that I didn't have to tell her no.  I don't know if she realized she wasn't up to running, or she figured there was no fighting me against the leash, but I am glad she stopped and sat down.

I feel so badly for Lakota.  She is so bored.  I try to change the rooms we stay in throughout the day (if I am home), and sit outside with her on the back patio so she has some outside time.  It is getting really hot out, so this is mostly done at night.  Bandit isn't exactly thrilled to be locked in rooms, either.  They are both used to having the run of the house all day.  They can't look out the front door or sleep on their favorite couch.  I know it is temporary, but I can't help feel badly.  My husband and I take a walk each night, and really miss having the dogs with us.  Neighbors know our dogs, and are always asking why they aren't walking with us.  I then have to explain the whole heartworm explanation, and find most people have no idea that treatment includes strict exercise restriction.   Maybe I should just refer them to this blog!

I have been doing some research about heartworm prevalence.  Lakota was a stray puppy picked up at the age of about 7 months in Floyd County, Georgia.  This is where she had to have been infected, given the date we adopted her, the amount of time it took for the heartworm test to become positive, and the fact that we never missed a dose of heartworm preventative.  The prevalence of heartworms in that county is very high, at 1 in every 28 dogs.  In Orange County, FL where we live, the prevalence is 1 in every 79 dogs.  We moved here from Rockland County, NY.  The prevalence of heartworms there is 1 in 242 dogs.  The United States as a whole averages 1 in 73 dogs infected with heartworms, with the highest rates in the southeast.  What is most interesting about the maps is that every state has heartworms, and every state has varying degrees of infection (as color coded on the maps).  It is interesting to see the differences in prevalence around the country.  To check out where you live, click the link below:

http://www.capcvet.org/parasite-prevalence-maps

Lakota's 2nd and 3rd injection dates have changed to Thursday May 14 and Friday May 15, 2015.  I will update whenever there is any change with Lakota.  For now, she is resting comfortably in her bed.

4/27/15

Until next time, 

Lakota's Mom

Three days post-injection and doing really well

It has now been 3 days since Lakota' first Melarsomine injection.  She is doing surprisingly well.  The biggest challenge is keeping her still.  She wants to run outside with Bandit, chase lizards, and be normal.  Unfortunately, this is not an option.  We walk her in our fenced-in back yard on a short leash just long enough to go to the bathroom.  I feel like she is a shackled prisoner.  She is extremely bored.  I have been giving her a Kong with peanut butter in it and occasional dental bones.  I don't want her to get an upset stomach, so I need to limit these food-based toys.  I can't give her other toys she likes because she runs around with them.  So for now, she will have to be a bored puppy.  She does gag from time-to-time, and has spit up a couple of times, and I am guessing that will get worse once the heartworms start dying off.  Overall, I am very pleased with how she is doing.  I will update when there are any changes.

One more thing.  Total costs so far are now at $644:

For now,
Lakota's Mom

Lakota playing with her Kong 4/18/15

Lakota has her first Melarsomine injection

Wednesday April 15, 2015

Today, Lakota had her first Melarsomine injection.  We were warned that this would likely make her very weak and tired, and will also begin her extreme exercise restriction.  My husband dropped Lakota off at the vet at 8:00 am this morning, and I picked her up at 4:00 pm.  To my shock, when the vet brought her to me, she was happy, hyper, and wagging her tail.  It is going to be really hard to keep her calm and quiet.  I walked her to the car and before I could scoop her up, she jumped right in.  I was worried I wouldn't be able to pick her up.  I guess I don't have to worry anymore.

Driving home, she was her normal car-loving self, looking out the window, excited, and enjoying the ride.  Thank goodness I had her in her doggie seatbelt, or she would have been jumping around the car.  When we got home, I let her jump out of the car, but walked her on a short leash for just a minute so she could go to the bathroom.  As soon as we got into the house, she greeted our other dog, Bandit, like she wanted to play.  I should note that Bandit does not like to be alone, so he was very happy to see her.  My daughter had come home earlier and told me Bandit was whining and going crazy when she came home because he was so lonely.

Now that we have been home for a couple of hours, I am noticing that Lakota is definitely feeling the effects of the injection.  She is very restless, and keeps re-positioning herself.  She has always been a "moaner," but she is moaning a lot more than usual, making me think she is uncomfortable and possibly in pain.  The vet gave her pain medication earlier, (Carprofen) and her next dose is not until tomorrow morning.  She is starting to get tired, and is sleeping on the couch.  She also needed assistance in getting up onto the couch.  I am guessing that the injection site is starting to feel sore.  Three weeks ago, I cut my finger and needed a tetanus shot.  It didn't hurt at all until the next day, when my arm was very sore at the injection site.  I am guessing that Lakota's injection site (deep in the muscle of her lower back), is starting to get sore just like an injection we would have.

I fed both dogs together like I normally do tonight, but Lakota would not eat.  Well, she ate the dog treat I put on top of her food to entice her, but left her regular food.  I might make her some burger or chicken with rice if I can't get her to eat later.

I will update in a day or two as her treatment progresses.  I have a feeling this is the calm before the storm.  For now, I am thankful and relieved that she is doing pretty well.  Hopefully the days to come will be just as positive.

Until next time,
Lakota's Mom

Lakota resting peacefully at home 4/15/15

The date is set for first injection. Update

We have been anxiously awaiting an appointment date for Lakota's first Melarsomine injection.  We finally have a date.  It will be on April 15.  We have to drop her off in the morning, and if all goes well, we will be picking her up that evening.  Someone will need to be home for her for the next few days.  Since it is a Wednesday, my husband and I are planning to each take one day off.  Then we will have Saturday and Sunday with her, as well.  I am really nervous about this, but I know it has to be done.

Lakota has been doing pretty well over the last month.  An occasional cough and being a little less rambunctious are the only signs that she has anything wrong with her.  We cannot walk her, and she only goes outside in our fenced-in back yard for potty breaks.  It is really hard to keep her from running in the back yard, but when she does, I immediately call her into the house.  I feel really badly about it, but the repercussions of running and getting excited certainly outweigh any apprehension from not letting her play.  I have purchased some dental bones and treats to keep her occupied, but I have to be careful because she has a sensitive stomach.  I am not sure the sensitive stomach is from the heartworms, or she is just a dog with a sensitive stomach (like our other dog, Bandit).

Lakota's personality is a little quirky right now, as well.  She is acting very cat-like.  Wanting affection at times, and then being aloof at other times.  Again, I am not sure if this is from the heartworms (and perhaps not feeling well), or it is just Lakota.  We have only had her for a little over a year, so this could just be her personality.  She was definitely more affectionate when we first got her, but she was a puppy then.  I guess we will have to just wait and see in the months following treatment.  Thankfully, she will never turn down a belly rub or hug, but sometimes we have to seek her out, rather than typical dog behavior of wanting lots of attention.

For now, it is a waiting game.  I want it to be over with, but it will be months before this is all done.  I will update as soon as there is any more news.

Lakota's Mom