Heartworm treatment aftercare is important to the health of your dog. Heartworm disease is very serious, and the treatment should not be taken lightly. Providing your dog with the proper aftercare will allow your pet's health to comfortably and safely improve.
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The Day After Treatment
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The day after your dog receives its heartworm treatment at the veternarian's office you will want to ensure it gets plenty of rest. Many dogs will sleep a lot, and possibly have trouble getting up and moving around due to muscle soreness. Keep water near your dog so he doesn't have to get up.
Recovery Period
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The recovery period for dogs that have been treated for heartworm is two to four days. During this time, keep your dog in a quiet and comfortable room and make sure it does not get any exercise during this time, even if they act like they want to go out and play.
Signs
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Make sure your dog's gum stay pink. If they turn bright red or white, call your veterinarian immediately. There could be excess blood, or lack of blood flowing. Serious coughing or choking will also be a sign to call your vet, while mild coughing is normal. Another serious sign to watch for is vomiting, especially vomit with blood in it.
Common side effects
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Common side effects of heartworm treatment in dogs is mild coughing as they need to release the dying micronisms that are in their blood. You may also notice a gagging sound, which is also a dog's form of coughing.
After the recovery period
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Following the first two to four days of aftercare, your dog should return to normal. There will be some residual coughing, which can last up to three weeks. It is essential to retest the dog after six months to determine if the treatment was successful. If you test your dog prior to six-month waiting period, it is possible to receive a false positive.
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