Boxer's strange episodes after heartworm treatment and prednisone?

This can be normal after the first round of heart worm treatment. As the adult heartworms die, they cause an inflammatory reaction in the lungs. It is VITAL to keep Charlie under strict confinement during this time. This means he needs to stay in a confined area or crate and then only to be taken outside on a least to go to the bathroom a few days per day. If they are too active the cough will only get worse. You can try to give him some Benadryl twice a day to help with the sniffles/sneezes. See link below. I would also contact your vet just to tell them what is going on to make sure they don't want to add any meds or change any meds for him. Of course, if he stops eating, the cough gets worse, you notice labored breathing, or he is coughing up blood then I would have your vet take a look at him immediately. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/#!

Poor TC! I'm sorry to hear that he's so sick. It sounds like he's had a really rough time recently :( If it has been confirmed that there is a large amount of free fluid in his abdomen, it's very possible that draining it may provide some temporary relief and make him feel better, at least for a while. It would help to have a bit more information about exactly what his test results have shown, because it's important to know what is causing the fluid build-up to give a better idea of whether this is a treatable problem or not in the long-run. That being said, if you feel that your current vet hasn't been receptive to discussing additional treatment options for TC, it's never wrong to seek a second opinion from another vet. Sometimes this can provide valuable insights and suggestions from a second pair of eyes. You could also request referral to an internal medicine specialist for further work-up and more advanced treatment, if you prefer.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, sometimes as the worms are dying off that can result in respiratory issues as they dislodge. Paleness and cold extremities can sometimes be seen in patients that have abnormal oxygen delivery which can happen in these cases. Usually the first 2 weeks are critical when treating for heartworms. I recommend that you him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. It would be good to check if he is having any issues with oxygen delivery. Good luck!

Any change in breathing warrants a trip to the vet for a recheck. While it’s possible that there’s nothing wrong, you could also be noticing the beginning of a complication of heartworm treatment. Pulmonary thromboembolism can occur when dying worms become lodged in the small blood vessels of the lungs. Your vet might want to take a chest x-ray.

Given that it was at least a week after the injection, I would not suspect it was the cause of her symptoms. If she was to experience a reaction to the injection, it would normally occur much sooner after the injection was normally given. Bees are very toxic to dogs, and it is possible that Ivy was stung by one even if you didn't happen to see it. You did absolutely the right thing by rushing her into the ER vet, and I'm so glad that she recovered quickly . I hope she also recovers fully from heartworm :-)

Hello and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry Hanna is having problems post heartworm treatment. Diarrhea with blood can be caused by many things. One very common problem in adult dogs that causes bloody diarrhea is a whipworm infection. Other causes include food intolerance/sensitivity, dietary indiscretion, parasites, drug reactions, stress, infection, etc. I would advise calling your veterinarian to investigate this problem and make sure that Hanna is ok after receiving the injections for heartworm. Your vet will review a history, perform a physical exam, and possibly advise some tests or treatment. Likely tests could include a fecal exam to check for whipworms, bloodwork, and possible xrays to evaluate her abdomen. Please have her evaluated to rule out whipworms or a possible reaction to the heartworm treatment. I hope she has a speedy recovery.

I'm sorry Aria has heartworms! The fact that she is lethargic and has a decrease in appetite is concerning, and this can be due to the sudden death of a large number of worms from the treatment. When a dog becomes lethargic as well as has a significant decrease in appetite, it's recommended to have them seen by a vet right away. I would take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. She needs to be checked out by a vet to make sure everything is ok. I hope this helps and that she feels better soon!