Heartworms are real and life-threatening parasite in dogs. Understanding the truth about preventing this disease is an imperative part of responsible dog ownership.
One of the most heartbreaking things Dr. Buzby encounters in her veterinary practice is conscientious, caring dog owners believing a lie and accidentally allowing harm to befall their dogs. Dr. Buzby is dissecting myths in this episode and empowering people with truth.
Please share this episode (and our companion post at ToeGrips.com) to make sure that every dog owner knows the TRUTH about heartworm disease and prevention in dogs.
I have learned my lesson. I had a dog that died of heartworm. The dog I have now is a rescue dog and I have had her for 2 yars after I got her from the shelter she tested negativ so She was given theProheart shot .Well I took her in in December and shock to me, sadly she tested high positive for heartworms so I am super scared and I am on a fixed income and really upset to find out that this shot has been on and off the market, problems to dogs when given to their liver…. Cheyanne is 3 years old and am waiting to see if the company will pay for her treatment but when I got her from the shelter, all her records were handed over to me and tragically I don’t have them anymore. Chances are they will not pay for her treatment without these records I am so upset with myself. I thought I did everything right with her. If you are reading this PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, give your dog the monthly heartworm pills!!!!!?
I’m so very sorry to hear about this situation with your dog, Martha Lynn. Thank you for echoing the importance of the monthly heartworm prevention. You’re right–it’s so much easier and wiser to prevent than to treat! I’m also sorry to hear of your issue with the Proheart injection. I personally do not use it, but I have many veterinary colleagues who recommend it and speak highly of it. So I don’t think we’ll ever know if that was the weak link or not. There are so many variable here because your dog is a rescue (and God bless you for rescuing her! All my dogs are rescues too!)
But it’s possible that she was developing heartworm disease whe you adopted her and the heartworms were just not mature enough to tip the test to positive at that time. Of course we’ll never know, and you have done a great job being conscientious in her care. I trust that treatment will go smoothly and this will soon be in your past. Hang in there! ❤️