My dog was treated for heartworm 4 months ago and his heartworm test is still positive. What does this mean? After treating a dog with melarsomine injections, adult worms may continue to die for more than a month following this treatment.
Does heartworm treatment shorten a dog's life?
This treatment does not actually kill the worms, however it does decrease their lifespan; keep in mind, however, that the average heartworm can live six years, so shortening that lifespan could still mean your dog having a heartworm infection for four more years.
How long can a dog live after being treated for heartworms?
The heartworms will die over the next 6 weeks. As they die and are broken down, pieces of them could lodge in other parts of the body's blood vessels, causing unnecessary complications–if your pet's activity is too strenuous. THE FIRST 30 DAYS AFTER TREATMENT ARE THE MOST CRITICAL!
Is a dog cured after heartworm treatment?
It is critical that your dog be allowed to rest following their injection. Heartworm treatment in dogs kills the Adult heartworms within a few days, but further complications can occur while their corpses are decomposing. It can take several months for the heartworms to be reabsorbed into the patient's bloodstream.
How often do dogs die during heartworm treatment?
Seven dogs (14%) died within the treatment period. Owners frequently reported behavioral changes, such as depression and lethargy, suspected to be secondary to pain.
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