heartworm problem

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We just found out today that our dalmation has heartworms. She had been coughing for several months and we just got the money together to take her to the vet along with getting the cat fixed. Anyway now I have to decide whether to get her treated or not. That may sound like an obvious Yes but there are a few problems. Number one being money. It will probably cost upwards of $500.00. Number two, she is ten years old so I'm not sure how many years she has left in her. Number three, she is pretty far along in the disease so her chances of complications are increased. I would be pretty upset if we spent 500$ and then she dies anyway. But still she is my baby. Has anyone else gone through this? What happened? Did the treatments work? Thanks for any advice.

-- Buffy in Dallas (buffyannjones@hotmail.com), February 13, 2002

Answers

I am so sorry to hear about your dog...when you have them a long time, they sure do get like kiddos don't they? In our family, we had one of our dogs developed heartworm at age 12, and after much discussion and prayer, put her down....say money was not a factor, I have seen too many animals suffer longer than they have to because of treatment and they usually end up a few years later dying of the disease anyway....with us, we never would spend that much money on an animal...it may sound cruel, and I am not saying that it should be that way for everyone, but $500 is a great deal of money for our household, especially when the treatment is so iffy. Our vet yelled at me last year for not buying heartworm prevention medicine for the four dogs..it would have cost us nearly $600 after the mandatory blood tests were done plus the meds....sometimes these modern vets can make a person feel guilty for not spending a months pay on their animal. I hope whatever decision you make you will feel confident tht it was the right one. God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), February 13, 2002.

Buff, I have had to turn loose of 6 or 7 four footed budies this life time. There are no words that are adequate to fill the empty space, there is only the distractions of replacements, with their cold noses, clown like actions, and innocent approaches. I think that is why I have only a cat now, their pretty independant and a new one will come by soon. Dogs are more within reach,emotionally and physically and need their own trophy of engaguement with humans.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 13, 2002.

I am so sorry to hear about your friend. It is indeed a very difficult decision. There are only 2 ways to look at it and only you can decide in your heart which way to go.

One is that I know for most people that this is a family member -- as much a member of your family as your children or husband. If it were one of them, wouldn't you do whatever you have to save thier life;

On the other hand, you also have to be sure that those children and husband eat and keep the furnace going for the rest of winter and pay for thier medical bills if they get sick, etc. Dogs seldom recover from heartworm and $500 is a lot to risk.

Only you can decide which is best for you and your family; however, my thoughts are that she is 10 years old and doesn't have much time anyway -- particularly in the way of "quality" time. She has lived a good life with a family who obvisouly loved her. Maybe it is time for her to just go to sleep and wake up in doggy heaven. I know a lot of people don't believe that animals will be in heaven; however, if God created them...and he even knows when a sparrow falls...then he has made a special place for them too!

My family will remember your family in prayer as you make this difficult decision.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.


Hi Everyone, I wanted to thank everyone for their responses. We have decieded to go with an alternative treatment with preventatives. I was so relieved when I heard that some dogs can live for years after being diagnosed! Thanks for the advice and prayers.

-- Buffy in Dallas (buffyannjones@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

Buffy, I have used granulated garlic as wormer, heartworm preventer, flea and tick killer, and as a skin and coat supplement for many, many years. For all garlic does, and how cheap it is (bought in bulk) it is the best

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), February 14, 2002.


Buffy, I have used granulated garlic as wormer, heartworm preventer, flea and tick killer,fly repellant and as a skin and coat supplement for many, many years. For all garlic does, and how cheap it is (bought in bulk) it is the best all around supplement you can use for any critter ( I feed it to dogs, cats and horses), feed two teaspoons a day for around 50 pound dogs, a bit more for dogs over 50 pounds, two tablespoons per horse sized critter.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), February 14, 2002.

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