Buffy's heartworm test came back positive... The Vet theorizes that she may have recently been infected just before we adopted her, so that her test last March came back negative. I know I gave her the Interceptor, but who knows what her breeder actually did...
I took her in this morn for extensive blood work to make sure that all systems are GO.
Assuming a snap test was done? Was this detected as part of her annual exam or does she have symptoms that prompted you to get her seen? Was an xray done?
Can you contact the breeder so she is aware to test all her other dogs?
Yes, it was part of her annual exam. No symptoms. I don't know the names of the tests, but he said he did one test which was positive, and had enough blood to do a more comprehensive test which was also positive. No Xrays yet.
I haven't contacted the breeder yet. Thought I would wait until I know a little more.
I susspect that if there are no symptons that you should have no problems with the treatment..Years and years ago, in my years, any indicatio of HW was allmost a death threat but that was when you got to see the little critters wiggling around in the blood sample.../Did the vet see microfilaria in the blood or was this just on a antigen test??
He may have done a snap test and an occult blood test or smear. The latter will likely show microfiliae, but can be sent to an outside lab to confirm. If a snap test was used, these are usually sensitive and accurate, but not infallable (for example, a weak positive should be confirmed with an outside test).
Xrays are a crucial tool when heartworm is diagnosed, this helps the vet in determining the extent of the disease, or to detect vital heart function, size, etc in a compromised heartworm positive patient..
Agree with Davet, little to no symptoms at this point is a good sign (not saying the problem can't exacerbate, but the less symptoms, the more likely it can be treated more effectively at the onset).
Don't wait to contact the breeder, the sooner she is aware, the sooner she can get her puppies/adults tested!
I brought her home today after 2 days at the Vet's for treatment. She seems to be doing very well. Dirk, my rescue with severe heartworms, was so sick. They didn't have much luck feeding her, even though I brought in her own food for her. Canned didn't help. But I got her home, and she is very eager to eat and did well with it.
Now the challenge is to keep her quiet for a month. Biscotti...keep your mouth shut for a while, please! Door bell...don't ring. Cats and squirrels stay away from my house! (Sorry about the cat comment...but there is one that sits on my neighbors fence to survey the neighborhood)
I was also rather surprised that it didn't cost nearly what I was expecting from looking on the internet. No, I forgot to get an estimate...there was never a question about whether she would get treated or not, and I just did it.
It does sound hopeful - cheering. Would she be allowed to have chew bones etc to help keep her calm? I really feel for you, with all the unavoidable distractions... hang in there!
The Vet theorizes that she may have recently been infected just before we adopted her, so that her test last March came back negative. I know I gave her the Interceptor, but who knows what her breeder actually did...
