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Also, just as a side note... If a heart is damaged you don't necessarily need a heart transplant. There are a myriad of cardiac drugs available to extend quality and quantity of life. With chronic heart disease (not heartworm disease, usually) we routinely do follow-up echos every 3-6 months or so. This is so we can monitor the progress of the disease and make adjustments before they start feeling bad, if possible.
At the age of 13, my pug's occasional cough was diagnosed to be an enlarged heart. She was sent off to get an ultrasound and another test at the cost of about $600. After the tests were run and I picked her up, I didn't hear back from my vet. So I called up and asked what I should do next. She said nothing, but that we should check on her heart in another six months. I then asked about medication and she said none was necessary. Well my pug in the meantime was happy and playful as she always was. Six months came and went and I decided that she was an older dog that shouldn't be poked and prodded anymore that she needed to be as long as she was acting fine. Years went by and I only got her the usual annual vaccinations. I didn't get her teeth cleaned any longer because they were okay but more importantly because of her age, I didn't want her to be put under anesthesia unnecessarily. Then... when she was almost 16 years old, I let myself be talked into getting her another ultrasound for her heart and the vet also wanted her to have a bronchoscopy. Well, that was a huge and expensive mistake. I wasn't told that they were going to be putting her under for the tests. She came back to me in a permanent daze, as if she'd had a small stroke. She died two weeks later. The tests cost me $800. I never went back to that vet ever again.
I love all of my pets very much, but I refuse to get them any advanced people level treatment. If my TN terrier mix had not done well with the heartworm treatment, we would have either kept her as comfortable as possible or just put her to sleep. I'm just not going to spend a large chunk of my income on maintaining a sick animal for years. It's not fair to the animal and it's not smart money management. And there are healthy animals in the shelters that need good homes. As it is, I spend more on my pet's healthcare than I do mine.
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My vets have a set salary. They don't make more money if people come in for their follow-ups than if they don't.
So they charge you a flat rate, a package price for certain treatments? If you don't do your followup visits, they would come out ahead.
Anyway, I was very grateful that my MA vet was willing to treat my terrier mix for heartworm the southern way.
Gracie starts treatment tomorrow morning. I really hate leaving her there all day. You know that has to scare them when they don't understand what's going on and where their owner has gone.
I agree with Miu on the healthcare for animals. I love all my animals and will do what I can to keep them safe and healthy. We all have responsibilities as animal owners, but there is no reason for any animal to suffer.
Gracie starts treatment tomorrow morning. I really hate leaving her there all day. You know that has to scare them when they don't understand what's going on and where their owner has gone.
I agree with Miu on the healthcare for animals. I love all my animals and will do what I can to keep them safe and healthy. We all have responsibilities as animal owners, but there is no reason for any animal to suffer.
I am sure she will be ok and do fine! Keep us updated!
I'm sorry that I seem to have temporarily dragged this thread off-topic. Anyway, please let us know how Gracie is doing! I know it's so hard to leave them for treatment, even when you know it's for the best.
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Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!
Then the hospital makes money on the follow-ups, so they put pressure on the vets to follow standard procedures.
Not where I work. The administration has no say in what the vets recommend. We recommend follow-ups as medically indicated.
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So they charge you a flat rate, a package price for certain treatments? If you don't do your followup visits, they would come out ahead.
I just got home from the vet's office and my dog Bubba has heartworm. The dr. wants to start him on treatment right away. I am so unsure as to what to do. My husband is on disability and we are just barely getting by. We love our dog and don't want him to suffer, so I know we will find a way to pay for his treatment. I guess what I really want to know is if we go ahead with the treatments, is Bubba doomed anyway? Thanks.
Start Bubba on the treatment--he is not doomed by any means. I had a dog treated 30 years ago and she lived a very long life. Treatment has really improved since then. I hope all goes well with Bubba. You won't regret having the treatment done.
...especially if he's light positive, the treatment may not be that extensive but they have to be kept quiet etc. Would do it too, definitely.
Not to hijack this thread, but does anyone know anything about Iverhart (generic version of Heartgard), is it as good or almost - ? I understand it's cheaper but don't know the details or anyone whose dog has been on it. Am a little leery taking a chance after that 6 mo. shot (Proheart6 - ?) that was deadly in some cases and was eventually recalled. Anyway, just curious
we use heartguard and it is very important to get the treatment and then when the treatment is complete please put your dog on heartguard . it is not that costly and if you are going to have a dog please use the preventative it is must less costly than the treatment and the dog does not have to suffer . good luck and I wish you and bubba the best of luck .
Do you know if the test showed adult only or if it was full infestation? If so, was it a strong positive - heavily infested - or a light positive? That will make a difference in treatment.
I've got an 8 year old F GSD that was pulled from a local shelter by a fellow dog rescuer. She asked me to board her for a couple weeks and in that time my husband fell in love with her so we paid the pull fees back to the rescuer and kept her ourselves.
Because she's light positive, she's just being treated with the preventative. It's a slower treatment and for us the best option. We've got a total of 26 dogs in the house right now, a combination of dogs available for adoption, dogs being held before being available for adoption, and our own pets. There is no way we could have done the 3 stage injections and kept her quiet for recovery. So while this will take longer and there will be a bit more damage to the organ, the additional damage will be less of a problem for her than had she been given the 3 stage treatment and gotten excited and it caused a heart attack.
Talk to your vet about the different options. And see if they'll do a payment plan for you if you need it.
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