Heartworm infected dog - Just found out today :(

Hi Samantha, welcome to idog!  I too am in MI....the NW part of the state.  It sounds like you got one of the Katrina dogs?  I'm gonna guess that he tested negative in September because the infected skeeter either got him AFTER the test or too soon before it for anything to show up in his bloodwork.  Or, sometimes the tests can be wrong.

You've got almost a week to work on showing him how WONDERFUL the crate is but if he absolutely hates it, you'll have to find another means of keeping him confined.  I don't have Callies email addy on this computer, but if you maybe do a search for Callie you can send her a PM....Callie seems to get every sort of ailment known to dog in her rescues and she's been through just about EVERYTHING.  I'm positive she's had at least one hw positive dog so she can be a real help to you.  She might have some thots on keeping him quiet as well, homeopathic stuff perhaps.

Bless you for adopting this boy, and we'll keep you in our prayers!

Where are you in MI?

Thanks, Glenda!  Yup, one of the Katrina rescue dogs - we spoke to one of the people who actually drove the truck to get the dogs.  So, she's the one who told me how their facility was. 

I guess I'll go put him in his crate and get him used to being in it with us here and if he cries, he cries. 

As for where in Michigan, we're in the TC area.

How about you?

Samantha

I emailed Callie so hopefully she'll be along shortly!

Small world neighbor!  I'm in Petoskey and we'll be moving to Kalkaska.  DH works for a radio group in TC.

Wow, awesome!  It is a small world!

Nice weather we're having today.

I have my boy in his crate for 20 minutes now.  I'm going to take him out for 20 minutes and then put him back in for about 30 minutes.  Wish me luck

I'm trying so hard to hold it together; I feel like such a lame-o breaking down in tears - I'm sure he'll be fine, but it's the keeping him quiet thing I'm really worried about.

Thanks for emailing Callie.  Hopefully she has some good words.

Hi Samatha...
 
I know your fear!!!!!!!!!! I did Rescue for 5 years and had a more than a few that were heartworm positive...
 
Okay.... this is what we did for My Scottie Max when he came into Rescue heartworm positive... 1st of all I had a wonderful dear friend with a quiet house and I sent him there. She kept him in a small bathroom with a babygate. She only took him out to potty and that is it!!!
 
The first 4 weeks are the most important...that is when you want to keep them quiet. And listen you dog may not feel to great during the treatment and he will be quieter than you expect.
 
After the first 4 weeks I brought Max home and kept him in yet another quiet area away from my other 4 dogs. Then I started out with very slow walks... NOTHING TO GET THE HEARTRATE UP..and I did this for 2 weeks. Then he was fine.
 
Now if he has a high burden then that is more dangerous and may require more quiet time.
 
Its tough Im not here to tell you its not... but you can do it... tell yourself for those weeks he will  have Many healthy years ahead of him when he gets through this.
 
One Scottie I had that was HWP was way to much for me to handle... I tried everything to keep that dog quiet and he had a fit in his crate..so I tried baby gating... Long story short I boarded him at the vets for the entire time... They loved him and were so good to him.... but it cost me a fortune...but he was happy in his doggie run there watching all the vet techs all day long....
 
I wish you the best of luck...I really do.....

One more thing...
 
If a crate is upsetting you don't want to do that to the dog... try to find a small area to baby gate him in...... Laundry room...bathroom....
 
The Scottie I told you about was getting way to worked up in his crate and again you don't want that heartrate going up....
 
Sorry I didn't proof read and spell check...
Im very tired trying to get Easter dinner ready for tomorrow....

terrierlover is absolutely right -- there's nothing magic about the crate if you can't get him re-trained.  It feels so 'mean' to separate friends, but just keep remembering this is for JUST a couple of months.  They can deal with anything short term. 

No worries about spellcheck.  

Thanks for the response.  I'm really hoping that he can do the crate thing.  He has been in it for about 36 minutes and he hasn't thrown a fit or cried although he did seem to do some type of 'denning' behavior, but can I assume that is okay?  I jokingly asked the vet today if we could just sedate him for 3 months (like valium or something).  He, of course, said no. 

I know I love the little guy; that's never been a question, but you don't realize how much you love them until something is wrong and your maternal instincts kick in like crazy.

I heard that about 33 of the dogs rescued from Katrina were HWP and they've all been treated successfully.  Only one dog who has been treated tested HWP a second time.  I try to realize that the vets know what they're doing and that there is something bigger out there who will take care of my baby.

Thanks again!

Assuming he does ok in the crate, should I leave him in there 24/7 (he usually sleeps in his dog bed in the bedroom, not in the crate) or can he sleep in his doggie bed and snuggle on the couch with us?

Let the vet guide you in this -- terrierlover gave a really good byword in "don't get the heartrate up"  That IS the point -- so the dog coming up to sit and cuddle next to you on the sofa is one thing -- the dog coming up to wrestle and PLAY is NOT acceptable. 
 
You will be able to do SLOW walks.  No running up and down stairs -- this is a GREAT time to practice things like 'heel' and 'sit' (come up a step and 'stay' ... up another and 'stay' -- get to bottom or top and 'sit' for a bit -- get treat and have fun while essentially staying sedentary).  Keep the leash short.  Keep the enthusiasm out of your voice -- you honestly can control a LOT with a puppy just by keeping your voice calm, cool and collected..
 
You may want to have stuff on hand like Calms (homeopathic by Hylands), valerian root tincture (a nervine herb that is a relaxant -- won't hurt or clash with the treatment but it can help if the dog gets excitable).  Even Rescue Remedy -- find out which works best on your dog. 
 
The vet will tell you specific guidelines - and remember, you will make it easier if you seek the dog out to be 'with' you JUST to relax.  If you do handwork, read, clip coupons or whatever -- bring the dog to be 'with' you just to be there.  Just because the dog has to stay sedentary doesn't mean to ignore them, altho an highly excitable dog may do BETTER being ignored.  See what works with THIS dog.

Awesome!  You all are so helpful and so appreciated!  It's hard to know what to do.  Hogie has some sep anxiety, especially when it comes to me (and I'm the one who works outside the house - my significant other works from home).  I just left to get brownies and ice cream (IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS!!) and while my SO was home, he started crying and whining and was a little upset until I got back.  So, that has me concerned; when I got back, he was on the couch half asleep and my SO said that his little heart started racing.  Is it possible to 100% keep the heart from racing?  Obviously excitement will happen at supper, etc.  Am I worrying too much?  Being too much of a Drama Queen? 

Thanks for recommending the holistic relaxants.  I had thought of that earlier.  Just a hunch that the Valerian tincture would probably work best.  Rescue Remedy has never been much help to any of my aminals.  Where can you buy that stuff?  And I've never heard of Calms... I'll have to do some research on that.

Thanks again.  I feel like the more prepared I am, the better off we'll all be.

-S

Quick question - which have you had more success with out of the homeopathic remedies you mentioned?  I think I'm more likely to feel comfy with the Calms Forte from Hylands.  I just looked up stuff on Valerian and it says it can cause palpitations, so I'm probably gonna head on down to our local co-op tomorrow or Monday and get some, and also see how it works on him before we undergo treatment.

I am going to go watch a movie and try to relax.  Hopefully he'll chill on his bed.  I'll check in about an hour and a half from now.

Thanks again for all the posts and hospitality.  I can't begin to say how much it's appreciated.

Samantha

Our golden mix, Honey, was 1 year old, give or take a month, when we adopted her Dec. 7, 2002.  She was suppose to be heartworm free, but a month later when I took her to my vet, she tested positive.  Because the paper work we had on her said she had been HW negative and been given HW pills, my vet retested and again came up postivie.We set up to have her treated, I called HS and they said to take her to their vet for a HW test.  I did and it was negative.  However a few days later he called and asked me to bring her in and he wanted to draw blood and send it to Texas A&M for deeper testing.  Their testing showed her positive.  And I found my vet used a different HW test than the HS vet did.
 
Anyway, i had to drop her off way early in the morning and they shaved two spots on her lower back and she got an injection that morning, they kept her overnight and she got another the next morning and I brought her home before they closed that day. A neighbor had loaned us a large wire crate and we set it up in the livingroom so she would not be alone, but could see us and the other dogs.  She wa allowed out on leash to do business 5-6 times a day and to get water.
 
I als0 had some tranks for her for when she got to rowdy.  I had about a dozen and in the 6 weeks she was in the crate, I used about 9 or them.  As soon as the 6 weeks was up I took her and she tested negative. 
 
Today, a little over 3 years later, she has more energy that you can imagine, she runs and leaps like a gazelle and she has no damage at all from the worms or treatment.  She hasnot  been sick one day.  Now, I do give all our dogs EsterC tab each day (hubby & I also take one) and a Mulitvitamin (Hubby I also take one, only we take human ones) and they each get a Fish oil. ..so do hubby and I. I origianlly got it for their coats, but found it is also good for heart and circulation, so figured that would be a good thing for Honey especially having had heart worms.  This is our Honey

Sorry to hear the news of your newly adopted fur child.
The only thing I can suggest is keeping him sedated with Benedryl to keep him calm from wanting to play too hard with your other dog.
Ask your vet what else you can do to keep the peace around the home, since the crate is not an option for him. Poor baby.
The treatments are harsh, but they can do really well on it and survive. Especially if they are young and strong like him.,
My parents had a dog that went through the treatment as an older dog and survived.
I took in two rescues years ago that the infestation was so high, nothing could be done. They are still with me, one at 10yrs old and the other at 9yrs old.
You have our support and comfort. Big hugs to you and your fur kid.