Adopted pittie comes with heartworm – Boston Herald

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Dear Dr. John,
Last year, I adopted a pitbull mix  from down South. She was still under a year. Paperwork detailed her vaccine history and that she had been tested negative for heartworm disease.  When she arrived, my veterinarian suggested additional vaccines for Lyme and Leptospirosis. She was also started on heartworm preventative as well as flea and tick preventatives. She has been in good health and adjusting nicely. Yesterday, my vet gave her booster vaccines and did a blood test. Imagine my shock when my vet told me that she had heartworm disease! I realized that she does cough when she is running or very active. How do dogs get heartworm in the first place? I am told the treatment can be a bit costly and necessitates a protocol over 3-4 months. What do you recommend? She was tested before she came to me, and it was negative. How could that be? J.F.
Dear J.F.,
Dogs get heartworm from mosquitoes that transmit the heartworm from one dog to another by biting them when ingesting dog blood. Heartworm disease is found across the country but is more prevalent in warmer areas since cold frosts up North prevent mosquitoes from flourishing through the cold months. In the South or warmer climates, if a dog is not on heartworm preventative medication they invariably will end up with heartworm. Clinical signs include shortness of breath and coughing, especially on exertion, much like you have noticed.
My guess is that your dog was either not really tested or tested but never had preventatives before coming to you. She may have contracted heartworm either just before or soon after the actual testing done there. The treatment does cost a fair amount but is often highly successful.  It does run a course of three months to treat followed up by additional testing. Throughout, exercise restriction is important. I would inform the group from which you adopted the dog, and I would work with your veterinarian to have her treated so she can have a long healthy life.
Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.
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