Agnes is H/W positive

THAT was exactly when we got Ms. Socks.  If you **want** you can take her thru the "slow" treatment with the ivermectin.  It took me a year -- but we got her clear and a few herbs really kept her heart and lungs in more than passable shape.

They had migrated to Socks' lungs -- her lungs looked like swiss cheese (no joke).  But once we got rid of the heartworm it wasn't a big deal.  Remember this was the dog that got dumped on us "to foster because she probably doesn't even have a month left -- can she just have a spot in your kitchen?"

If you want to talk to me about this let me know -- a bottle of Ivomec is about $50 -- that one bottle treated her all the way thru, plus my other dogs (except Foxy the sheltie) for the next four years til I thru it away once the shelf-life expired!!

It's easy to do -- it's cheap.  If you *want* to do it, let me know. 

sharismom

For however long she has, she has a place on my old couch.

Deb W.

I'm sorry, Tina.  I hope you take Callie up on her offer.  I knew a fox terrier who recovered from HW and he was around 10 years old and not in good health otherwise.  Give the old girl a scritch from me.

aww poor Agnes...she's in great hands tho!

Callie, I appreciate the offer.  Right now my vet wants to concentrate on getting the inflammation down and getting some weight on her before we stress her system even more.  I'm not kidding when I said she is emaciated - she is literally skin and bones. 

The other thing I have to consider is that right now she is a foster and anything above and beyond has to be approved by the rescue group.  I am keeping them updated, but I already know the two people at the shelter/rescue who approve medical care are not as concerned with the older dogs.  I will do as much out of my pocket as I can, but technically Agnes is not "mine" until I adopt her. 

I will keep every option open, but need some time to absorb everything.

sharismom

but I already know the two people at the shelter/rescue who approve medical care are not as concerned with the older dogs.  I will do as much out of my pocket as I can, but technically Agnes is not "mine" until I adopt her. 

I will keep every option open, but need some time to absorb everything.

From an ethical standpoint it's not right to let her not be treated at all because she's a walking heartworm factory this way.

The way *i* treated Socks was to give her a dose every day for the first 4 months -- and then you begin to wean it off.  By that time the preventive dose of the ivermectin has kept all the microfilaria killed daily but in that time it will "sterilize" the adult parasites.  It simply keeps whacking away at them and it eventually kills the adult heartworms too -- but they die slowly enough so that all that dead parasite material isn't wooshing thru the body all at the same time (which is what makes the Immiticide treatment so dangerous)

But absolutely -- when you foster like this that means they own the dog.  I 'get it' -- trust me.

the ivermectin treatment is VERY cheap -- literally the $50 bottle will treat her and can provide several other dogs the monthly dose of ivermectin for heartworm prevetion as well.  (i.e., the bottle can be split easily)

They cannot deny her care... they really just can't. it's not fair to her - and it certainly would not look good from the publics point of view.

The ivermectin treatment DOES work - it just takes a long while. I've also seem the immiticide treatment work on older dogs (with other issues related to the heart) it does take a lot out of them, but again - it works. we had an eski dog with the worst heart ever, tested high for heartworms - and our vet went the immiticide route. we had him on a few heart meds, and he did test neg at his retest. he lived for about a year after we did his treatment - and he was probaby 13-16 years when we got him.

whichever route you take (if any) Anges is sure lucky to have your comfy couch to relax on =]

Hopefully you'll be able to get some weight on her, & then make decisions from there.

If you need anything, let me know. 

Get well soon Agnes--thank goodness she has you, Tina. 

Callie & Erica, I don't agree with some of the operational decisions at the shelter either.  This shelter has really come a long way.  Ten years ago this volunteer group was formed and worked in the shelter in conjunction with its employees (it is really county animal control).  The group pushed to take the place to a better level.  They got enough donations and sponsors to build an entirely new building, which has been in place about five years.  A year ago the volunteer/rescue group was actually placed in charge of the shelter as paid employees, not paid by the county, but the county still employs some personnel there.  This was done as a test with the understanding that the rescue must still follow county guidelines.  Of course, as with any organization, there are struggles - everyone doesn't always agree, favorites are played, etc.  So those of us who volunteer go in and do the best we can to help all of the animals.  I personally stay out of the politics, but there are battles to be forged, which I think by me setting an example and making others aware of other optons,  things can be even better for the animals.  If you consider we live in a relatively small town where redneck, back-woods mentality abounds, we do okay.  The shelter in the next county over gives many of its animals to a Class B dealer, who then sells them to research (or worse).  That shelter still uses the gas chamber to euthanize.  They don't even have hours where it is convenient for anyone to go in and adopt - they're only open 3 days a week for about 4 hours each day.  And the county there thinks that's okay.

At any rate, I am going to get some weight on Agnes and continue to work with the vet.  I did a lot of research yesterday and don't want her to die in such a horrible, slow way.  Right now she needs a little more strength before I can proceed.  Regardless of what the group says or does, I will do what I think is best.