Heartworm treatment medication.
Submitted by AmyandSophia on October 9, 2010 - 10:00pmI heard something from my vet that is very bad and I want to know if anyone else knows if it is true. I took Mille, my GSD rescue girl that is heartworm positive, in for her shots the other day. Millie is 3 months into the 6 month Heartguard portion of treatment for her heartworms. At the end of that period she was to get the injections to kill the remaining worms over a couple of months treatment time. I asked my vet if we were still on target for that because my vet said Millie's right side of her heart sounded rough. I want her to have the heartworm treatment as scheduled, but my vet said the company that makes the medicine that kills heartworm (I thought it was Ivermectin they treated wtih, am I wrong?) had closed and they were the only producer of it in the United States. They would not be treating any more heartworm but on a case by case basis. She said Millie isn't going to qualify for the treatment because she had a compromised immune system at one time and she is old. That means my beloved girl who has gone through so much and come SO far, is going to die a horrific death from not being treated for something treatable. What is this crap?? And has anyone else heard of this going on??
If you have access to the medicine, why is my vet saying they are going to start limiting its distribution and we won't be able to treat Millie? I want someone to tell me what is going on?
Amy and Sophia
I just im'ed my vet and as soon as she give me her opinion
I will let you know what the truth is. I trust her implicitely. Sounds like they are giving you the run around-I hope!!
And always Winston, gone but not forgotten!
Thanks Carol....
I believe they are as well. According to the article posted below, veterinarians can request the medication as needed, on a case by case basis. That isn't to say they (Merial) will be judging the cases themselves, but it will be a decision for the vet to make. So I may be changing vets as soon as I can to get my dogs the treatments they deserve. I wonder if she would with hold cancer treatment for my elderly Doberman girl if it comes to that. I suspect Kora has bladder cancer, but with her age, I wonder if my vet would even recommend treatment. I guess I need to get these questions answered.
Amy and Sophia
It's called immiticide and it's made by Merial
http://www.acvim.org/websites/acvimACVIM%20Heartworm%20Guidelines%20May%2013_final.pdf
Looks like they are trying to get FDA regulatory approval. This was one of the things I could find on it. There are tons of articles on it.
But according to this, veterinarians CAN get it as needed,
They just need to call Merial and request it. My veterinarian told me flat out when I first found Millie and took her in, that she (my vet) doesn't like German Shepard Dogs because she was bitten by one as a child. If I find out that she would refuse treatment to my dog based on breed, I will take her to heck and back over it. I am going to be making contact with a new veterinarian anyway for my dogs. My horses are well taken care of at my current vet, but I don't like how this one vet is treating Millie or Sophia for that matter. When Sophia had an upper respiratory issue recently, I took her in. My vet (same one) was doing a temp on her and said "Boy she stinks". I said no, I had just given her a butt bath and she shouldn't stink. She said, and I quote "ALL Bulldogs stink". I thin I am not really liking the attitude there....
Amy and Sophia
WOW sounds to me like you really should find another Vet.
If you have any concerns that she is refusing based on breed, why not call another Vet in the area and speak with them. Honestly, any Vet that would give me attitude over a breed would not ever touch my dog again. You can also call Merial's customer service number and find out as well.
I am going to talk to two other vets this week.
One of the other vets at that clinic has seen my animals when my regular vet is gone. I need to talk to him about it. I am also going to contact a totally different clinic, a vet that used to breed Bulldogs as a matter of fact:-) I am going to talk to him about my GSD girl and an issue I am having with Sophie and allergies. I know he can help me with Sophia, it just irritates me that my own vet I have seen for more than a year now with everything rom Kennel Cough to pregnant horses, is being like this with Millie.
Amy and Sophia
Hopefully you get the information you need!! GOOD LUCK!!!
nm
:(
I found this... looks like what your vet has said is true.
http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_martin_county/heartworm-on-rise-in-t... Sept 24 2010
I wonder though if maybe another company will start producing it since there is such a large demand. I sure hope so, and in time.
Even in this article it says it IS still available.
Just not as readily as before. I think my vet is using personal prejudice here. I need to talk to someone else at that clinic about this, or I need to go elsewhere. I lean toward the elsewhere.
Amy and Sophia
true
It does say it's still available in limited quantities and it's being rationed out but that it's also very expensive. I think your vet should have at least giving you to option to pay the more expensive price. It sounds to me like you'd do just about anything for this dog. I wonder if the vet knows it means that much to you. - I agree, find another vet!
Thanks, I think I will:-)
I think there is another company trying to get the FDA approval and everything together to start supplying this medicine. I wish it were already done and ready, but maybe by the time Millie is ready for her 6 month heartworm check after doing the Heartguard, it will be available.
Amy and Sophia
Amy you do have options!
I did not ask permission to link this, and I'm not positive it's going to work, but it really is one of the BEST articles on heartworm. There is always more than one way to do things, and since Millie's overall health is not it's best, the immiticide is a risk. Having adult heartworms is not an automatic death sentence! You CAN prevent her from getting any new adult worms, and the adults she has now will eventually die. You can make her health and immune system a priority, and do all you can to boost it to help lessen the damage done by the adult worms she has. There are more ways to get rid of the adults also. That vet sounds like a jerk! I can not believe she makes statements like she doesn't like GSD's or that all bulldog's stink! What an ass. Definitely look for a second opinion also on what your options for Millie really are.
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/AOOxTNj5W0cG3LmdvgBwVVe5UgA-JrXx5lWr2T2MZtLJWR9RbyUgD_GH-uZ90jIScKQwjjEN3ZEvi4IoCVSyf4cgZN7MN3VG2zpFfw/Heartworm%2520Whole%2520Story.pdf
Cathy and Audrey
link didn't work
The link didn't work but that's an excellent idea... to find another way of getting rid of heartworms.
looking for other remedies
I know this is probably a last resort but maybe while you are looking for a different doctor you can try some home-remedies... just incase you aren't able to get ahold of any of the medication.
There is a herbal heartworm remedy on http://www.pawhealer.com
You can actually have the adults surgically removed too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOLzFsNOJ-4 this dog had 86 worms removed!
Here's another med called Heartworm Free. http://www.wolfcreekranch.net/heartworm_free.html
I couldn't find anything herbal (except the solution on pawhealer)
I am really thinking of you and your dog. I hope you are either able to get medicine or find something else that will work.
Amy so sorry you are going through this with Millie
See if you can find a holistic vet. We used Nosodes as a heartworm preventative. Rocky never got heartworms. But I'm thinking there must be a natural treatment to get rid of them also. I will try to check around and see what I can find out for you and Millie.
Jo Ann
Amy take a look at this website
www.theherbsplace.com/Heartworm_sp_36html
.
I hope this is something that will work for Millie. Just check this site out and make sure it's legitimate. I always worry about on line websites being ok. I hope someone on the site will be able to talk to you and help with a protocal for Millie. Hugs to you both.
Jo Ann
Sophia what i would do.....
i had several rescue rotties when i was doing rescue come in hw positive...all i ever did was give them a monthly hw tab...kils the worms slowly...i know quite a few vets now doing this....i would not panic and would just start a reg hw plan...you do it all year then check in a year....keep exercise to a min......but this will work....i feel many dogs could be saved that are euth could be treated this way.....it may take longer but it is safer....
Thank you Judy, that is my thought as well.
I hoped you would respond to this. I am really aggravated with my vet anyway, but then this. I actually think she has prejudice in this case because of Millie's breed, not her overall health (which is excellent). It worries me that after 3 months on the Heartguard, my vet said that Millie is sounding rough on the right side of her heart. Could the treatment I AM doing be causing this, or should I consult with a different vet about possibly a heart condition unrelated to the Heartworm infestation? My vet didn't even give me her thoughts on the whole thing, she just basically turned me away and said sorry.
Millie only comes out and feeds horses with me daily. It isn't strenuous at all, and I feel that just her walking around will be beneficial to her hip issues and could keep her in better shape than if she were less active. She really doesn't do much at all, just walks behind me and lays near me.
Amy and Sophia
have you done a chest x ray
i wouldld get another vet and do a chest x ray...first to rule out a possible heart problems unrelated to heart worms...you dont have any medical history prior to getting her...and any vet with half a brain would of done a chest to see if it was enlarged....if money isnt tight i would also do a ultra sound of the heart this will give you a clear picture of what is going on and if any valves are damaged...the right sided ruff is a blow off statement by a vet....
give your heart guard once a month...dogs die if thier is a large kill off of worms and they clog a valve...but its rare your talking old dogs of 5 and over hw positive for years....their is also a site wolf creek that has natural ways of killing hw....if my wilson had hw what would i do first chest then ultra sound then once a month pill...recheck in a year...the first sign your in trouble with either heart failure or heavy die off is couging..with little exercise....
blow off this vet and find one more intrested in treating your dog not as a client but as a well loved pet...dont stress your not doing wrong...your vet is...
Thanks Judy.
Millie doesn't have even the slightest of cough. She doesn't breath hard unless it is hot out, but all three of mine breath harder when it's hot out. She doesn't tire easily, nothing. I seriously wonder about my vet's diagnosis...there are many false positives out there.
I will keep her on the heartguard and take her to a different vet for chest x-rays. My vet is blowing me off...she may be mad that I have stopped bringing my horses to her after I let it slip I thought she pinched my mares first embryo when I bred her last spring, I hadn't actually said that out loud, though my breeder and Repro vet all agree that is what happened. So I have been avoiding having my animals looked at by her lately, and she knows why.
I think it is time to move away from that vet all together. Sad, but necessary. Thanks for your help, I greatly appreciate the encouragement. My Millie girl is too special to let go like that.
Amy and Sophia
coud you....?
I have a question... would it be detrimental to give 2 heartworm tabs a month vs just one? Maybe that could speed the process along too so that it doesn't take a whole year. If your dog is at a pretty advanced stage or has other health issues it may not be able to wait that long. I wonder if you could cut the time in half by giving 2 of those a month. I wonder if you could talk to a vet about doing this?
no becasue
its a posion and you have to look at it like that....these pills are in your pets blood stream killing off hw...so giving two a month could posion her....plus if a dog had a hugh amt of worms they would die to fast and clog the valves,,,,
oh okay.
I see. I figured it was a poison but since the heartworm medication (not preventative) is also a poison, I figured that if they are having to put poison in anyway, then it might not hurt to give 2 heartworm preventative.
But I mean, there's a reason it's only once a month, it's probably been proven to eithe rnot be needed because it's still in the bloodstream... or it's proved to be unsafe. You're right.
the once a month have been proven
to be effective for 45 days, but we are thought to be too dumb to be able to figure out a 45 day schedule, so that's why they recommend once a month. Gives the manufacturer more sales.
Cathy and Audrey
oh!
I had no idea. Wish I would have known that I could have saved quite a bit of money by now!