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Originally Posted by Dobes&Hounds  Isn't there a procedure where they take a probe with a catch on the end of it, and run it down the artery in the neck and pull mature worms out? Could have sworn I saw something to that effect.
Yuk, ok.. I found it, they pull them through the jugular vein surgically. I wonder if this is common treatment? |
I think that's really only protocol for older dogs who are heavily infested and need treatment RIGHT then (rated 4 on the 1-4 scale) like they will die in the next few days or weeks... the disease is scaled 1-4, 4 being the most advanced with the disease and showing the most symptoms. Rosco is probably only about a 2, but with him, he has had a lot of damage done to his heart already since he has been running around with other dogs etc. for the last year, pretty much untreated. A more gradual method is probably better with him to make sure his heart can handle the treatment. I'm pretty sure he would have much less of a chance pulling through with open heart surgery with the damage that has already been done. The worms also live around the heart, in the lungs, and can even get into other organs. I've tried to familiarize myself with the disease pretty well i suppose