BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Dogs Any one have any heart worm positive experience?

My husband and I are currently fostering a HW+ Aussie cattle dog named Dixie.

Our vet (lucky for us and her) is on the board of directors of the American Heart Worm Association (this also makes Blue Crush Rescue the group we are fostering for very happy) and he has explained every thing beautifully and did not tell me anything I did not know already.

Has anyone else ever cared for a HW+ dog before?

I personally have not, but back in the 70's my sister and brother-in -law nursed their malamute back to health after a pretty bad bout of HW and she went on to lead a full life.

I also knew a family friend that did the same with a standard schnauzer.

So hang in there, you're doing a wonderful thing for that dog.

Thank you and she is an absolute doll. Anyone want to adopt a Cattle Dog for Halloween ?

I have. If the dog has a true worm burden in the heart you need to keep activity and excitement to a minimum. If the dog just has a positive test it does not mean that the dog has much of, if any worm burden in the heart.

You can choose the traditional method of a high dose series of shots of ivermectin or you can go with the non traditional method of normal monthly heartworm medication over 12-18 months.

We had a rescue Sheltie several years ago that was diagnosed with a serious HW condition. It took two rounds of treatment and we had to work hard at keeping her calm and limit her activity but she survived and did extremely well. Good Luck and your doing a wonderful thing!

Dixie is now heartworm free and available for adoption!

Anyone want a goofy cattle dog?

I LOVE the photo. Her position, and expression remind me of my very goofy shepherd.

She's adorable! I'm glad she made it through treatment okay. We are currently fostering a little Jack Russell who is heartworm positive. He had advanced infestation and was really sick when we first got him. He is now on his third round of medicine and is doing fantastic!

I just wanted to update everyone on Marshall. He finished his heartworm treatment and is now heartworm negative! Yea! He is doing great and is available for adoption. Here is a link to a photo of him that I have posted on my blog.

We have another heartworm positive foster dog that we will be getting next weekend. Hopefully he will come through treatment just fine as well.

Wendy,

Has Dixie found his furever home?