Questions to Ask a Vet About Heartworm Treatment

Heartworms are a parasites that are considered a global pest, affecting dogs, cats, wild canids and, under rare circumstances, humans. They are spread from host to host through mosquito bites, when the parasite in larval stage is injected. Once inside the pet, the parasite travels through its blood stream until it reaches its lungs and heart. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing and lethargy. Since it can affect any dog and cat, it is important that pet owners are kept well informed about heartworm disease and its treatment.

  1. Treatment Cost

    • One of the first questions that will arise will be about the treatment cost. Trips to a veterinarian are not known for being cheap and it is best to know in advance how much the whole treatment will be. Its cost may vary greatly, depending on different factors, but typically you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars. To keep the costs to a minimum it is a good idea to prevent your pet from getting heartworms by giving him a chewable preventative medicine you can acquire from a veterinarian. Also, keep your pet records up to date. This may save your dog from getting superfluous tests that will cost you money.

    Recovery Time

    • The recovery time for any treatment varies depending on what stage the disease is at. There are three main treatments for heartworms: Immiticide, which is fast kill, Heartguard, which is slow kill, and the surgical method -- reserved only for high-risk patients who would not survive otherwise.

      The slow kill consists of treating the infected pet monthly for up to a year. The fast kill treatment will only kill 50 percent of the heartworms -- only the males are killed after a single dose. A number of fast kill doses are required for tall the worms to be killed.

    Side Effects of the Treatment

    • Every treatment has its side-effects. Work with a veterinarian to determine which treatment is the best for your pet to minimize its side-effects.

      Although the slow kill method is considered a gentler method than the fast kill, there is a small risk of the dog getting pulmonary emboli or even death.

      The Immicite injections for the fast kill treatment do cause muscular pain and soreness for a few days.

    Natural Treatment

    • You may consider treating your dog with natural or holistic remedies. Ask a veterinarian for his opinion before treating your pet because natural remedies are not intended to replace traditional medicine treatments. They should be used in conjunction with your veterinarian's treatment. Natural treatments may mean that your pet does not have to go through surgery, but it may also mean that the treatment will be longer. A veterinarian will also advise you if following the natural route is appropriate. If the case is urgent and serious, the use of natural remedies may not be appropriate.