Update
Bubba's doing pretty well, he's doing better it seems everyday,
his fur weight comfort level is all getting much better...
He's a fun loving extremely playful dog, unfortunately right now he's on restricted exercise,
he's supposed to be on very little activity, I'm supposed to lesson his activity even more,
after he gets the second dose of chemo/heartworm treatments after 60 days,
to try to kill off the adult heartworms...
He's a little high strung, he's really protective now, he's stubborn for sure,
partially because he can't burn of the extra energy "YET",
but I'm working on all his training anyway...
My ol'Pops is already seeing all the tell tale signs,
I want to keep Bubba & raise the pup/Elvis too...LOL
I'm trying not to get too attached, just incase...
But I'm pretty much hooked already, maybe it's just the ol'softy in me,
I felt so sorry for him & couldn't leave him in a cage/kennel anymore...
Right now I'm just a foster, we'll see after his treatments are done,
I'll have him for a min. of 270 days for all the treatments
{god forbid unless something bad happens}
I guess the meds 1st does of Melarsomine Inj. 2.5mg/kg
are supposed to be eventually killing off the adult heartworms...
That's why he's on limited exercise,
they could possibly move/pump thru the heart if his rate goes to high...
He's still on Predisone 0.5mg/kg &
antibiotics Doxycycline 10mg/kg for 2 times a day for 30 days
They may bombard/irradiate the adult heartworms too,
only if the chemo doesn't kill them off, but it's very expensive,
I'm glad the FOAC rescue org. is paying for all of it, they are doing a great thing...
My understanding is the antibiotics kill the larvae, so to help not spread the infection,
not really kill the adults, but could so restricted behavior/activity is mandatory...
This is how it was explained to me;
If the dog shows signs of larvae he has adult heartworms {Bubba tested positive}
The larvae don't turn into adult heartworms in the dog,
"allegedly" the larvae need a host mosquito to sucks out the larvae infected blood,
then bites another animal & then it becomes heartworms, they lay eggs/larvae,
mosquitos bite the dog & it fly's off to infect others after it bites them,
it's viscous cycle...
How did it start, what was 1st, the chicken or the egg syndrome...LOL
Dogs are good for you, IMO they keep you moving, keep you healthy {proven fact}
& they keep you young at heart too...
Truly mans best friends, unconditional love & true loyalty...
I'm surprised nobody claimed him at the pound, org. owners, it's sad really...
Thanks again everyone...
