Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Hmmm







Homework has ended. Yay us! ow we can go outside every evening and play in the pool. They love it and so do I...


Sausage is doing well - though we think we are re-naming him Jasper...Submit your name ideas in the comments section because Sausage is just not the right name for this guy...Here are promised pics of him. He's getting housetraining down really well (no accidents yesterday, though I do realize this means I'm trained at this point and not him), He's playing with eveyone, loves the kids and is a total snugglebug. He's learning how to sit too though that still involves moving a treat backwards over his head - He'll get it though - give him time...


I heard back today that his appointment to start the road to treating his heartworms will start this week...We take him in for bloodwork, a rabies shot and micro chipping. They'll determine his treatment plan..."If an animal is diagnosed with heartworms, treatment may be indicated. Before the worms can be treated, however, the dog must be evaluated for heart, liver, and kidney function to evaluate the risks of treatment. Usually the adult worms are killed with an arsenic-based compound. The currently approved drug in the US, melarsomine dihydrochloride, is marketed under the brand name Immiticide. It has a greater efficacy and fewer side effects than previously used drug (thiacetarsamide sodium, sold as Caparsolate) which makes it a safer alternative for dogs with late-stage infections.
After treatment, the dog must rest (restricted exercise) for several weeks so as to give its body sufficient time to absorb the dead worms without ill effect. Otherwise, when the dog is under exertion, dead worms may break loose and travel to the lungs, potentially causing respiratory failure and death..."


Treatment could kill him, but not treating will kill him and this little guy deserves a chance for a better life. Did you know heartworms are spread by mosquitos? And if you think about how much pain this little guy will have to go through I hope you have or will put your pets on preventative.

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