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Heartgard Plus, Revolution Cat and Nexgard Spectra ALL ON SALE This Month !

10% Off  Heartgard Plus

10% Revolution Cat 6+2 Free Doses

10%   Nexgard Spectra

Theo is a two year old Tibetan Spaniel that was adopted by his family from a rescue in New Mexico. Theo has adjusted to his new family very well.  His family provided him with good medical care, including his vaccinations and was started on heartworm prevention.  During Theo’s annual exam a heartworm test was performed and was positive for heartworm antigen. This was double checked at a reference laboratory and confirmed to be a true positive for adult heartworms. Theo most likely became infected with heartworms prior to his adoption and being started on heartworm prevention. Theo’s family allowed us to take chest Xrays to evaluate his lungs and heart; both of which appeared normal.  We also did bloodwork and found that his liver and kidney values were normal.

Theo ‘s owners decided that they would have him treated for heartworm disease. He was started on an antibiotic for a bacteria called Wolbachia, that is commonly found living on the heartworms. This treatment helps decrease inflammation in the vascular system and lungs. Theo was also started on a steroid called prednisolone due to him having a cough, this is not uncommon in heartworm patients. The steroid can help decrease lung inflammation. Theo continued to take his heartworm prevention to keep him from becoming infected with the immature heartworms called microfilaria. He then was treated with heartworm adulticide injections called Melarsomine to kill the adult heartworms. Theo handled the adulticide injections well. He will have a heartworm test in 9 months to confirm that the adult heartworms were completely eliminated from his body.  He will continue on heartworm prevention year round for the rest of his life and will have periodic heartworm testing throughout his lifetime to make sure the heartworm prevention is working well.