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