Heartworm Disease in Dogs.

    When I adopted Frasier and had him thoroughly check out by my vet, it was discovered he had a good case of heartworm, which, if untreated, will eventually kill the dog.  The worms suffocate the heart and lungs, etc.  The treatment is expensive (about $700.) but necessary.  And.. there is a three to five month - Keep the dog calm and quiet - period of time because the dying worms start traveling through their bloodstream and you don't want them getting caught up in the heart, lungs, etc... causing paralysis or death.   Ugh. THAT.. was no easy feat with Frasier.

   So, Ben had a skin tag thing on his leg and I brought him to the vet to have it checked and removed earlier this week. While there he had his yearly heartworm and Lyme test.  I got the call the next day - both came back positive.  WHAT?   I do give my dogs heartworm pills, but not during the winter months because mosquitos don't live here in those seasons.  Down south the problem is much more prevalent. This is where Frasier came from.   SO... how did BEN get it?.... I freaked a little.  Had all four dogs brought back and tested .. all are negative.  After a second heartworm test in house on Ben, it was decided the first one was a false positive, especially since he has no evidence of heartworm disease.  I'm glad he doesn't have heartworm, kind of alarming that the first came back positive, falsely.  He's on Doxycycline for the Lyme disease, which is far too common in humans and animals in New England.

 Lesson here - always ask for a second test with heartworm if you get a postive test result, because they can be inaccurate and the treatment is rough on the dog and costly.   Also, don't skimp on the monthly treatment... although here in the north where the winters are cold, it's OK according to my vet to skip the very cold winter months.  Not doing so puts you at risk for a costly and difficult treatment for your dog.