Rosco HW update - Page 3

**greenkouki** · 06-27-2008, 06:12 PM

Yup no physical exertion whatsoever

It's so hard when you're a dobe too. The Dr. says he can only go outside on leash to potty and should not get excited etc. I was just going to take him and crate him the whole time really but I've decided to stay here with him instead (even as good as he is in the car etc.).

Linda H · 06-27-2008, 07:16 PM

Hey it won't be long before he will be able to romp it up at the beach or wherever you want to take him.

**greenkouki** · 06-27-2008, 07:18 PM

Yes. Definitely looking forward to that!

**Doberdog** · 06-27-2008, 08:59 PM

I will say a prayer for you and your boy. The good news is that since he has been getting the preventative, at least the babies in his blood stream are getting killed off each month and no new worms are formed. When my dog was treated I researched a lot but I don't remember the lifespan of a heartworm.
I'm glad he has a DoberDad who is willing to Sacrifice good times for the love of his Dobie. Please remember that when he gets the treatment, it is very important to keep him calm at all times. It is so important. As the worms die, basically they sit in his heart, IVC, etc and rot, then the body reabsorbs them. If he moves around too much, one can break loose and go to his lung, which is very bad. So even though it is VERY hard, especially when they act like they feel better, it still has to be done. Instead of keeping Shaver in a crate (he had never been in one), I kept his dog bed in the bedroom and kept the other dogs locked out. I kept his food and water in there also. I would put the other dogs in the backyard, put him on a leash, and take him to the front yard to do his bussiness, then right back in. I did not take him off the leash for about 3 months unless he was alone with me or my husband in the bedroom. Of course we spent alot of time in there with him watching TV, or on the computer. Many times we just sat in there and petted him.
Thank you so much for putting yourself through this to make him better and give him a chance at a healthy life.
Please keep us posted. Maybe you should document your whole experience and post it on a site to help others so they will know what to expect.

**greenkouki** · 06-27-2008, 09:09 PM

Documenting this might be a really good idea. We are going to ask to keep all the radiographs etc. Since my brother is a cvm student it might be good for him to refer to later and keep as a learning tool. I might make a journal entry every day on my laptop or something too. Thanks for the suggestion

hbwright · 06-27-2008, 09:24 PM

Poor boy deserves to be a dog doesn't he? He'll get there. I know how scary this time is for you. Heartworm is a panic of mine since Mansen was diagnosed, but we got so lucky with him. He was only about 10 months old and had a very slight case.

This will be a great bonding time for you two and when it is over it will be like getting to know him all over again, he'll be a different dog and imagine how happy he'll be (and allowed to be).

**Doberdog** · 06-27-2008, 09:31 PM

I'm sure you have already done some research, but here are a few links related to heart worms that I had saved to favorites. I just want to help you in someway.

Heartworm Disease In Dogs and Cats... Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment for Heartworm Disease In ThePetCenter.com

Heartworm Disease - Treatment

HSS Heartworm Site

Heartworm Treatment Aftercare

Natural Heartworm Success Stories

American Heartworm Society

**Burns** · 06-27-2008, 09:42 PM

Hope Rosco feels better soon

He's lucky he has you to take care of him

Dobes&Hounds · 06-27-2008, 10:19 PM

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?

**greenkouki** · 06-27-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

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