Our dog got heartworm

When we found out that our lab, Jack, had heartworms, it was pretty scary news. Heartworms are fatal when not treated, and can cause truly horrifying health problems. Even the cure can be deadly, which is why so many vets advocate preventative medication, like Heartguard.

Canine heartworms, like many dog parasites, come from mosquitoes. They can’t be passed on to other dogs, so even if you have one dog with heartworms, the other will be safe if he’s on preventative medication. Vets can only detect heartworms through a specific blood test, so even if you have your dog on HeartGuard, it’s still a good idea to get him tested once a year or so. That’s because preventative medication only kills larvae, and not adult worms. It takes the larvae 6 months to become adults, so a dog can test negative ,even if he has baby worms in his system.

Before treatment begins, dogs are usually given a drug to help them kill off the parasites that help heartworms breed. Because the parasites have a symbiotic relationship with the worms, killing them off can prevent more adult worms from clogging the heart and lungs of your pet.

Dog heartworms are usually treated with a medication called Immiticide, which is arsenic based, and is injected into the lumbar region of the dog’s spine. It will make them sore for a few days, but they will soon recover from the pain. The hard part comes after the injection. When you inject dogs with Immiticide, it kills the adult worms by dissolving them into the bloodstream. If a dog is too active during recovery, he may cause some of the adult worms to break off into his bloodstream and cause a blood clot. If dogs are not kept in kennels or dog pens during treatment, acute death can occur.

After the first shot and a month of bed rest, your pet will go back to the vet for two more rounds of shots. One on one day, and the next the following. These will kill the last of the adult worms, and your dog will need to rest for another month with minimal activity.

After the final shot, the vet will give some medication to kill the microfillae, or the baby worms in your dog’s system. Once these babies are dead, your dog will need to remain on preventative medication for the rest of his life to prevent a re-occurrence of the worms. You should still have your dig tested once yearly to make sure that the medication has removed all traces of worms from your dog’s heart and lungs.

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My passion is Labradors. I have 2 females, Sammie who is 2 years old, and Jessie who is 5 months.  Each adds so much joy to my life, and each has a special place in my home and in my heart.  They are, however, a lot of work, and can be very destructive as puppies.  Sometimes owners don’t know what they are getting into, and sometimes owners don’t realize that when puppies are given the time and attention they need, they turn out to be great pets, and loving companions.

While doing research for this article, I realized that Labs are the most common dog in the US, and there are Lab Rescue resources in every state and major city.  All rescue dogs are spayed or neutered, and usually microchipped.  Because Labs are people oriented, they quickly adjust to their new surroundings, and their new families.

If you are not able to foster or adopt,  There are other ways to support Lab rescue.

Meet Sheila Wedegis:  Sheila paints beautiful portraits of Labs to raise awareness and support Lab rescue.  All proceeds from her sales go to that organization.

“I was born in Boston and now live in Palm Bay, Florida. Art has been my passion and expression since I was a child. I feel it contains an unmistakable spiritual essence. ‘To touch the soul of one other person, to know they are not alone on this journey is the dedication of my art and the reflection of my life’s journey. I share my home with a menagerie of dogs and cats who inspire me to capture the essence of their souls’. The window to the soul is through their eyes and hence people comment about the eyes of the paintings I do.”

You can see Sheila’s artwork at http://savingalabaday.blogspot.com/ or http://www.labradorretrieverart.com

You can also check with your local pet stores to see if they have fundraisers for rescue pets and shelters.  I know that in my area, Operation Kindness and several Rescue groups visit the local stores with information.  You can always donate there.

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You would find lots of newspaper ads where you can get information on where to find Labrador puppies. You always need to keep in mind that the best and the reputable breeders do not advertise in the newspapers. There are many Labrador puppy breeders that sell sick, or inbred puppies. Buying puppies from pet shops can also result in an unhealthy dog. You should always research your breeder, and ask questions about lineage, diet, and environment. You can also ask your friends or relatives who have Labradors in their home. They will be able to tell you where to get the best Labrador puppy.

Always find a reputable Labrador puppy breeder if you really wish to get the best one for your home. You won’t always be able to tell the health of your puppy just by looking, so it’s best to take your puppy in for a full veterinary checkup   before purchasing.

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Few great reasons for which you should own a Labrador are:

· Labradors have all the positive personality traits that owners look for. Whether the dog is employed as family pet, eye dog, or hunting dog, it does all duties faithfully. Having a Labrador in the family makes things easier and happy.

· Labradors are extremely obedient. Once you have created trust, and once the dog is sure that you won’t abuse it, it will show greater obedience towards you throughout its life. Their obedience makes it easy to train them for all purposes.

· Since Labradors are employed as working dogs or assistance dogs, the animal has high level of intelligence. The dog retains most of the important lessons given to it and also learns new orders well. It can often perform daily tasks without being ordered.

· They make an ideal family pet, because the dogs love to play and run. If it is trained properly it can be good companion for your children at home. The Lab’s intelligence, fondness for children and tolerance level make them perfect playmate for growing children and toddlers. Labradors are known to take care of toddlers very well.

Thus these are few great reasons to own a Labrador for your home and family.

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The Labrador Retriever has a very loving, active temperament, which is why it often makes a good choice for individuals looking to adopt a good family pet. However, there are some people that don’t realize the maintenance involved in caring for a Labrador. The Labrador Retriever needs constant human interaction, as well as a regular exercise routine. Some people aren’t well educated in how to best meet these requirements, which is the primary reason why so many Labradors end up homeless. It’s extremely important to know how much care a Labrador Retriever requires before making the choice to bring one into your home.

To meet the growing need of protection and care for abandoned Labrador Retrievers, many organizations were founded across the United States. Each organization covers a specific region or community, and provides a designated service for abandoned purebred Labrador Retrievers. These organizations are non-profit, and usually run primarily by volunteer labor.

When adopting a Labrador Retriever from a rescue organization or animal shelter, there are many important decisions that are essential to consider. A rescued Labrador may have special emotional needs, especially if coming from an abusive home environment. It may take a significant amount of time to gain the trust of your Labrador, because of their previous negative experience with humans. It’s extremely important to be gentle and loving towards your new pet, especially in the initial stages of their life with you. Since Labrador Retrievers have a very social temperament, they have a constant need for human interaction.

Another possible consideration when adopting a Rescued Labrador Retriever is that your dog may not be able to breed. This is because it is the policy of most rescue organizations to spay or neuter any Labrador Retrievers that are cared for by the organization. Since so many of abandoned Labradors are puppies, it is the view of most rescue organizations to attempt to cut down on the number of puppy abandonments. As well as the spay/neuter operation, rescued Labrador Retrievers are often treated for parasites, given a complete set of vaccinations, and vet-checked for any preexisting injuries or conditions.

By adopting a rescued Labrador Retriever, you are taking a responsibility for providing a loving and affectionate home for your dog. Adopting a dog is a choice that should be taken into very careful consideration. It’s extremely important to research the needs of your new pet, as well as your ability to meet those needs. If you’re willing to take on the responsibility of pet ownership, you will find that adopting a rescued Labrador Retriever is a mutually beneficial experience that will teach you the value of caring for an animal in need.

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