Download Heartworm Treatment Guidelines - Advanced Mobile Veterinary

Heartworm Treatment Guidelines
The American Heartworm Society recommends the following heartworm treatment protocol for dogs. This
method effectively eliminates most heartworm infections when closely followed by both you and your
veterinarian. The overall goals of treatment are to safely and successfully eliminate current adult and
immature heartworms, prevent new infections and minimize treatment related complications in your dog. The
recommended treatment consists of the 5 steps outlined below. This recommendation is to help prevent
ongoing damage to the heart and lungs during the “Slow Kill” method which only became a method of
treatment when Immiticide was difficult for veterinarians to acquire. Therefore, a pet with grade 1 or 2
heartworm disease is an excellent candidate for treatment.
“Slow Kill” might be effective in some pets and a better option for older pets, but with all the medications we
have today to help with pain and side effects, it’s safer to treat dogs with the injections than wait for the worm
to die on its own. Although, heartworm prevention and doxycycline can weaken the worm and it can die
sooner, the average life span of a heartworm is 7 years. That is 7 years of heart damage.
I personally recommend this protocol for heartworm treatment. I have always had good success, very few side
effects and in the 13 years of practice, one death.
The pets we treat must be in good health. Please fill out the Heartworm Treatment Questionnaire.
Initial Treatment (Day 0/ 1st mo): Heartworm Prevention and 30 days of Doxycycline (Cost Varies Based on
Size and what the rescue group has)
1. The prevention will prevent any new worms
2. The Doxycycline kills a bacteria on the worm that makes it stronger and causes more inflammation in
the heart and lungs. $20, or provided by rescue group
3. CBC, Chemistry, Urinalysis available at AMVS $90
4. Prednisone $20 (if not provided) to reduce inflammation in the lungs and heart caused by the worms.
To be given the entire treatment process. 1mg per 4 lbs of body weight, twice a day the first 5 days,
then once a day until one month AFTER the treatment is completely done.
First Adulticide Treatment (Day 30, 2nd mo)
(Cost of 1 bottle of Immiticide which treats 40lbs and can be saved for further pets, pay by the bottle, $90):
1st injection of immiticide and observation for the day. We will send home pain medications and prednisone
to help with any inflammation the dying worms might cause. This greatly reduces side effects.
Prednisone anti-inflammatory, if not already provided or purchased $20
Tramadol for pain, if not already provided or purchased $20
Gabapentin for the inflamed nerves in the back from the injection, if not already provided or purchased $20
Second Adulticide Treatment 2 injections, 24 hours apart (Day 60, 3rd mo):
(Cost of 1 bottle of Immiticide which treats 40lbs and can be saved for further pets, pay by the bottle, $90)
($10 overnight stay):
Two injections of Immiticide 24 hours apart with overnight care and pain medication. Once again, we will
send home pain medication and prednisone to help reduce many of the side effects of this drug. The worms
will be completely dying at this point.
Home Care – Your Responsibility:
CONTINUE TO GIVE HEARTWORM PREVENTION EVERY MONTH DURING TREATMENT. Throughout the
recovery period, please watch your pet for coughing, gagging, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Excessive
sluggishness, respiratory distress, and coughing up blood are signs of a serious problem that require immediate
veterinary attention. Many of these side effects can be prevented with medications sent home and constant
rest.
If the rescue group declines doing the first injection of Immiticide and decides to only do two injections 24
hours apart we will have them sign a release understanding that this may cause more side effects or a slightly
less chance of effectiveness.
Worksheet for cost for patient:
Weight:_________
Number of Immiticide bottles needed $90 per bottle, treats 40lbs, 3 injections needed: _______ total cost
Doxycycline $20 for whole treat
$20
Tramadol $20 for whole treatment
$20
Overnight stay (1 only) $10
$10
Gabapentin $20 for whole treatment
$20
Prednisone $20 for whole treatment
$20
Bloodwork and Urinalysis
$90
20LB DOG WITH ALL INCLUDED (2 BOTTLES OF IMMITICIDE)
$360 WITH LEFT OVER IMMITICIDE