Heartworm treatment in dogs requires specialized medication that may only be prescribed and administered through a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will determine which treatment protocol is best for your dog. You can help your dog recover at home by giving him the chance to rest as much as possible.
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Veterinarin Assessment
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To determine what type of heartworm treatment is best, a veterinarian must determine how advanced the heartworm disease has become. Blood tests, X-rays and a physical examination will help the veterinarian determine if the heartworm disease is severe and requires special consideration or if the heartworm disease is in the beginning stages with less treatment risks.
Treatment
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The only medication available that will kill adult heartworms is melarsomine dihydrochloride. This medication must be administered in the middle of the back deep within the muscles; the injection is painful, and the dog is often sore for many days after treatment. For beginning stages of heartworm disease, and if the dog is otherwise healthy, two doses administered 24 hours apart are recommended.
Dogs that have advanced stages of heartworm disease require a different type of treatment. Veterinarians will generally prescribe a three-dose melarsomine dihydrochloride regimen for dogs with advanced heartworm disease; this regimen gives the second dose 30 days after the first one, and a third dose 24 hours after the second dose.
Some veterinarians may also recommend a small daily dose of Ivermectin for a few months to a few weeks before the melarsomine dihydrochloride injection is administered; Ivermectin will kill baby heartworms known as microfilaria and sterilize adult heartworms. This type of regimen may be used if the dog's life is not in immediate danger from heartworm infection to reduce the overall load of the worms in the dog's body and decrease any side effects from treatment. Ivermectin may not be used on dog breeds that have reactions to this product, particularly collies and shepherds.
Home Care
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Heartworms in dogs cannot be treated through home remedies or any type of over-the-counter product. Heartworm disease can only be treated through veterinarian-prescribed medication and injections, and the injections themselves must be performed by a veterinarian as well. However, you can help your dog to recover from heartworm treatment and minimize any side effects by providing good nursing care to your dog at home after he receives the treatment injections. You will need to keep your dog in a quiet and restful environment and help him to eat, drink and go to the bathroom without moving around as much as possible.
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