Today, Lillibet had her first dose of heartworm preventative since starting her deworming treatment. For most dogs, this monthly medicine is just one more step loving owners take towards protecting the health of their pets. But for Lillibet, this little pill has much more meaning.
For dogs that have been diagnosed with heartworms, as Lillibet has been, the treatment and eradication of the worms is a long and risky process. Adult worms in the ventricles of the heart must first be exterminated via injections given to the dog. Lillibet received these injections in early June and was kept under constant supervision for the first 24 hours before she was discharged. Once home, her level of physical activity had to be severely restricted for one month to minimize the risk of clots being formed by the bodies of the worms as her immune system got to work breaking them down.
Today, Lillibet took the next step towards becoming completely free of heartworms with this first heartworm preventative pill. The medicine contained in the preventative pills targets the heartworm eggs (larvae) that might be in her blood. Again, the danger here is the possibility of clots forming or an allergic reaction to the active ingredient in the heartworm preventative (Ivermectin).
Lillibet took the medicine at 8am this morning and we are just now exiting the 8-hour “danger zone” when any complications are most likely to occur. Lillibet still needs to be kept quiet for the next day or so, but for now (knock on wood!) things are looking extremely positive. Lillibet is such a fighter!
Posted by Dad K on July 12, 2010 at 10:37 am
I’m thrilled to hear that Lillibet continues to recuperate successfully. Has her energy level continued to improve? Are she and Soph continuing to get along?