[ARCHIVED THREAD] - SemperFi Dog Rescue--Champ dumped in park. Needs forever home, HELP with vet care NEW PHOTO pg 2! (Page 2 of 3)
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Quoted: I’m down for this, money sent($40). So this dog has heart worms? I thought that was a death sentence..it’s treatable? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0694-2990493.jpg @boolzi How big & heavy is the furry toddler these days? He looks happy! |
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Quoted: @boolzi How big & heavy is the furry toddler these days? He looks happy! Quoted: Quoted: I’m down for this, money sent($40). So this dog has heart worms? I thought that was a death sentence..it’s treatable? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0694-2990493.jpg @boolzi How big & heavy is the furry toddler these days? He looks happy! He is tonight, as per your request, 82.8 lb. I just looked and last time we weighed him was 6/27/23 and he was 76.4. When we got him 2/18/23 he was 55lb. Surely he's done growing? |
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Quoted: I’m down for this, money sent($40). So this dog has heart worms? I thought that was a death sentence..it’s treatable? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0694-2990493.jpg @boolzi It IS treatable now! You are right. It used to be a death sentence. But they've come a long way. Our Semper Fi dog, Sasha, had heartworms when she came to us. We didn't know it, and were told she had been checked. There are different philosophies to treat it. And I think it depends on how bad they have it. Our Sasha, for instance was "the worst I've ever seen" according to the vet. Sasha came out of Mississippi, so that makes sense. Mosquito hell. Our treatment for her consisted of immediately starting on a slow-kill Advantage Multi (which kills the BABY heartworms (microfilaria) but doesn't kill the adults) every month forever. THEN that first month, we had to do heavy steroids and antibiotics, to try to keep her from getting infection or inflammation from the baby heartworms dying (My understanding is rudimentary, so take this with a grain of salt) Second month, no steroids, no antibiotics, just advantage Multi. Third month, Heavy steroids, antibiotics, and a deep muscle tissue shot (had to spend night at the vet) to start killing the adult worms. The chances of her dying after the shot and in the weeks following, were very high. She was not allowed to be off leash at all, nor was she allowed to jump up on anything (like the couch). I worried every time she had to go up the steps to the deck, and tried to make her go slow. Anything that could stress her heart could be fatal. Fourth month, a repeat of the third month. Deep muscle injection, night at the vet, etc etc etc. Fifth month, a smaller and smaller dose of steroids as the month progressed. So it's time for her second blood check to see if there are any new baby worms. If there are, we have to do it again but it won't be as bad. It seems like Champ may not be as bad as Sasha, or else his vet just takes a different approach. But there are several ways to approach heartworm treatment. Ours was over 1200.00. Champ's is 1200 just for heartworm, and that doesn't count his regular vet check, physical, vaccinations, etc. So I'm glad to know there is a way to save these dogs, but it ain't cheap.  Hoping as we learn more, the price will come down for future dogs. I think the length and cost of treatment has to do with which protocol is best for the dog (meaning how bad the dog has it, and the risk.) ETA: I think Jordan has found a vet in Georgia who will do the treatments for significantly less, but the risk is higher (says our vet and others  )So moving Champ from Kansas to Georgia would be a risk, since the stress could kill him. We made the call to treat him where he is, and try to get him home. That way he only has to travel from JGrelle to his forever home with his new arfcom family. ETA2: We chose to pull from our savings at the time, to treat Sasha. A lot of people don't have savings to pull from, so I understand that not everyone can make that choice. Even our vet said, "No pressure and no judgement. If you choose to let her live out her life as it is, that's a reasonable choice. Knowing y'all, I can't see you not doing anything, but no judgement either way." And he was right. We couldn't trade her life, even if it was just a year or two, for $1200. Not everybody can make that trade. So in that way, I do not judge. I do have a problem with people who dump dogs. |
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Quoted: I’m down for this, money sent($40). So this dog has heart worms? I thought that was a death sentence..it’s treatable? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0694-2990493.jpg Oh I meant to say....Man, he is looking SO GOOD. Our Sasha is 80 lbs (not fat). I bet yours is going to be 90. ETA: You would not BELIEVE what changed after the heartworm treatment. She was sort of listless, and her coat was dull and no matter what I did (good shampoo and conditioner, proper bath, deshed and coat care every 6 weeks) I couldn't get it to improve. After the heartworm treatment, and her next bath/condition/undercoat removal, she was SHINY. It was freaking amazing. It's like her vitality came back. |
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When I had the vet do a physical & heartworm test, his came back positive in less than 10 min. The vet said it wasn't in the advanced stage as he had not developed a cough, but it was clearly established. Champs heartworm treatment is 2 doses, 24hrs apart that kill the adult heartworms then strict kennel rest with very limited activity & no excitement for 30 days along with a low dose aspirin every day for 30 days to keep the dead & dying worms from forming any clots. He will also be getting all his vaccinations just not all at once, so his system doesn't get overwhelmed. Vet is very positive about Champ making a full recovery. |
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Quoted: Donated. My dog keeps me happy. Somebody else should have that too. Thank you! Long ago, my equine science instructor gave us a quote that said, "the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man (or woman)." The outside (and heart) of a dog is good for same. |
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Quoted: @boolzi How big & heavy is the furry toddler these days? He looks happy! Quoted: Quoted: I’m down for this, money sent($40). So this dog has heart worms? I thought that was a death sentence..it’s treatable? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/445788/IMG_0694-2990493.jpg @boolzi How big & heavy is the furry toddler these days? He looks happy! It’s treatable. Survivability and effectiveness depends on how bad a burden they have. Typically, you are looking at something like a month of meds, a shoot, a month of steroids/meds, A second shot followed by a third one the next day after a stay at the vet, then another month of steroids / meds. And both those months of lease walks / limited activity. 98% or so cure rate and 90ish overall percent survival. With some degree of lung damage, the milder the lower the burden and how well things go. It will run around 2K for the treatment. Or, you can spend like 8.7 bucks on a monthly pill and have a 98.7% chance of them not getting heartworm. |
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Attempted to donate $160, browser / site crashed and bounced back to the blank donation page before getting a payment confirmation. I'll check the CC and see whether it went through. ETA: It didn't, resubmitted. Notionally for Champ, but really, for who needs it most, or for what you need to continue to do this for all the pups. |
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Quoted: Sent $50, no place for a comment. Please pitch in for a great organization and a good dog! Yes, i figured they are doing good work for all the dogs they can help and take in. So they will make sure the dog gets his care, even if no place to make the comment. He is a really good looking dog |
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Champ is at our house now, he meet Gunny & Roxanne our 2 Semper Fi Dogs, they did great. He also meet with one of our cats & he showed no interest in her. Took him for a short slow walk outside & he did awesome on a leash, followed commands & did not pull at all!. He is very intelligent! He is now in a kennel in our front room, letting him get some much-needed rest. |
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I'm so glad to hear that Champ is home and doing good! Y'all keep bumping, to make sure we have Champ covered. Anything extra will go to several other heartworm positive dogs we have right now. Champ was just the most urgent. I have to make soup for a charity event, but I will be back on asap this evening. Thanks to all who are bumping and/or giving. 
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Quoted: @Kitties-with-Sigs Hi Kitttes, I'm a dumbass and can't figure out how to earmark for Champ. Please see to it that one of the $100.00 donations( mine) gets to him directly. Thanks again for everything you do... Everybody is having the same issues. We are keeping count of what comes in since I posted this thread, and earmarking some donations for general fund per requests in IMs sent to me. Thank you so much for being our stalwart friend. 
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Quoted: Attempted to donate $160, browser / site crashed and bounced back to the blank donation page before getting a payment confirmation. I'll check the CC and see whether it went through. ETA: It didn't, resubmitted. Notionally for Champ, but really, for who needs it most, or for what you need to continue to do this for all the pups. Thank you very much! Anything beyond what Champ needs will go to the other heartworm dogs waiting for treatment. |
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Quoted: I donated, but it wouldn't let me add "words of support" anywhere. Quoted: I donated, but it wouldn't let me add "words of support" anywhere. Quoted: I donated, but it wouldn't let me add "words of support" anywhere. Same here but I know it’s for a good cause even if not earmarked for Champ |
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Quoted: So Champ is going to be adopted out after he is well? Yes. Anyone interested in making Champ a part of the family can say so here, and we will get you in touch with Jordan. You do need to fill out an application cuz we are all official now and the state demands it.
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Champ has been doing great since we brought him home. He has been pretty shy, but is warming up & slowly coming out of his shell so to say. Eating & drinking good. He loves petting & brushing. Is very easy going & gets along with our 2 rescue dogs, our 16yr old Chihuahua & 2 cats. He is very intelligent, house broken & does great on a leash. Honestly one of the best dogs I've ever known. I'm sure he doesn't feel really good right now, since he just got dumped last week & has started his recovery from heartworms. But he is resting very well & not restless or pacing at all. He likes being inside as well where he is safe, warm & it's reasonably quite. He is underweight, weighted 62lbs & should be around 80ish for his size, but we are working on correcting that too. I'll say it again, he is a very good boy. Especially with what he's been through. |