Treatment FAQ

how much is heartworm treatment in a 20 lb dog

by Wilber Haley Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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**All patients should be retested in six months after treatment, regardless of protocol** Cost Schedule EVALUATION $50.00 Dogs 1 - 10 lbs. $140.00 Dogs 41 – 65 lbs $160.00 Dogs 11 - 20 lbs. $145.00 Dogs 66 – 85 lbs $180.00 Dogs 21 - 40 lbs. $150.00 Dogs 86 – 120 lbs $195.00 Dogs 120 lbs & Over $200.00 **Cost includes doctor’s exam, comprehensive blood work (including heartworm test) and Immiticide treatment, regardless of protocol.

Cost
WeightTotal Price1st Payment
2-20 lbs$225.00$75.00
21-40 lbs$325.00$150.00
41-60 lbs$425.00$200.00
61-80 lbs$495.00$225.00
2 more rows

Full Answer

What is the best heartworm treatment for dogs?

  • Cover the tablet with peanut butter. Put it on a small piece of bread and your dog won’t even notice the medicine.
  • Put the medicine in a pill pocket. These soft chews have a little hole for inserting a tablet.
  • Hide the medicine in a favorite treat. ...
  • Give the pill when your dog is hungry. ...
  • Train the dog to receive a daily treat. ...

What do I do if my dog has heartworms?

Quick takeaways:

  • Give your dog a monthly preventive every month and on time to get the most effective protection against heartworm.
  • Try to keep your dog or cat inside in the early morning and at dusk, and away from standing water (mosquito breeding grounds).
  • Fix torn window screens, close doors and beware of lighting that can invite mosquitoes into your home. ...

How much does it cost to treat dog for heartworms?

It is never pleasant for your veterinarian to break the news to you—your dog has heartworms. Immediately after you put your phone down, you might ask “how much does heartworm treatment cost?” Unfortunately, this deadly disease does not come cheap. The cost of heartworm treatments may range from $500 to $3,500.

How long does it take to treat heartworms in dogs?

Some of these factors include:

  • The dog’s age when heartworm prevention is started;
  • If the owner forgot to give heartworm prevention and for how long;
  • If the dog is switched from one type of heartworm prevention to another;
  • If the dog recently traveled to an area where heartworm disease is more common; and
  • The length of the heartworm season in the region where the dog lives.

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How expensive is it to treat heartworms in dogs?

The average cost of heartworm treatment for dogs is often around $1,000. However, it can range from $500 to $1,100 or even more depending mainly on the size of your dog, veterinary bills, and the stage of the disease.

How much is heartworm prevention treatment?

The American Animal Hospital Association places the average cost of preventative heartworm treatment for dogs at $5-$15 per month, and the cost of treating a dog already diagnosed with heartworm at $400-$1,000. With both prevention and treatment, costs typically increase with the weight of the dog.

Why is heartworm treatment so expensive?

The current drug of choice is Immiticide, and due to manufacturing issues, is difficult to obtain and as a result is expensive. In addition, the protocol to treat heartworm disease is very involved and has an extended course.

Can I get heartworm medicine without a vet?

Go to ABC Online Pharmacy (see resources) if you don't mind using the generic brand of Heartgard. This will save you a lot of money over the course of a year, and the generic brand is known for being just as good as Heartgard. You don't need a prescription since the company is based in Canada.

How much does a heartworm test normally cost?

On average, tests to detect heartworm disease cost $45-$50.

How much does it cost to treat a dog with heartworms?

Since treatment protocols for heartworm vary and depend on the severity of the infection, your dog’s medical history, and weight, the cost can vary...

Can I give my dog heartworm medicine without testing?

No. Heartworm treatment is a risky process that requires the guidance of a veterinarian. You will need to work with your veterinarian to diagnose a...

What do I do if I can’t afford heartworm treatment?

Vet bills can pile up, but don’t let this fear keep you from taking your pup to the vet. If you’re concerned about cost, talk with your vet to set...

How much does it cost to treat heartworm in dogs?

Your dog will need to continue on once-monthly heartworm throughout the treatment. These cost $20 to $50 for a six-month supply. Additionally, most veterinarians recommend a month-long course of antibiotics, usually Doxycycline, in the second month prior to the injections.

How long does it take for heartworm to kill a dog?

Heartworm is a very lethal disease that slowly kills dogs in a span of 5 years – a very slow and painful death. Curing heartworm also entails a very long and taxing process.

How old do puppies need to be to start heartworm prevention?

Puppies are generally started on heartworm prevention medications – Revolution or Heartgard being very common examples, at 6 weeks old in most shelters and pet shops. These medications are then to be given on a monthly basis.

How long can a dog be in a clinic for Melarsomine injections?

If there are no complications, the dog would likely be kept for 2-3 days. After 30 days, the second and third Melarsomine injections are given 24 hours apart. Again, the dog will need to be kept in the clinic for observation. Overnight housing and care usually will run between $100 to $300 per night.

How long do you have to give a dog worm injection?

Prior to the injections, your dog will need to be on once-monthly heartworms preventatives for at least 2 months. This prevents new infections from arising as well as kills the immature heartworms, whereas the Melarsomine injections only destroy adult worms.

How much does a melarsomine injection cost for dogs?

Antibiotics of this type would generally cost between $50 to $150 for a month-long supply. Price varies based on the size of our dog. Following this, the Melarsomine injections can begin. These injections are very potent drugs, so they have the potential to cause complications with the animal.

How do you know if your dog has heartworms?

As they do damage, you may see difficult breathing, exercise intolerance, unusual/long periods of lethargy, and coughing. Because of this, early diagnosis is key.

How much does it cost to treat heartworms in dogs?

Unfortunately, this deadly disease does not come cheap. The cost of heartworm treatments may range from $500 to $3,500.

How many stages of heartworm in dogs?

Heartworm disease, in dogs, has four stages. Understandably, the higher the stage, the worse the disease and in turn, symptoms will be more obvious.

What causes heartworms in animals?

The main cause of heartworms are mosquitos—they spread the infective heartworm larvae and migrate from the mosquito bite through the animal’s body until they reach the heart and blood vessels. There is no other way of getting this disease except by mosquito.

What are the factors that increase the risk of heartworms in pets?

There are several factors that may increase your pet’s risk of getting heartworms and these are the following: Being a resident in endemic regions such as tropical areas. Lack of prophylaxis to prevent infestation of heartworms. Outdoor habitation.

Can heartworms cause a coma?

Eventually, if still not treated at this stage, the heartworms will continue to clog the lungs and heart causing difficulty in breathing, lack of energy, loss of weight and loss of blood to its brain—this might lead to coma and unfortunately, death.

Can heartworms cause blood clotting in dogs?

Additionally, multiple visits to the veterinarian is needed to do bloodwork, x-rays and injections. Sadly, treatment for heartworms may come with risks as serious complications such as blood clotting in the dog’s lungs may occur .

How much does a heartworm treatment cost?

At Low Cost Pet Vet, our affordable heartworm treatment runs from about $400 – $800 (with no complications). Treatment consists of a three-dose regimen of melarsomine to kill off the adult heartworms.

How to treat heartworms in dogs?

Treat your dog for heartworms using a multi-stage treatment plan. Get your dog on preventative to stop the problem from getting worse. Immediately limit all your pet’s exercise and activity to limit tissue damage done by worms rapidly moving in your pet’s heart.

How long does it take to get heartworm treatment?

Our Affordable Heartworm Treatment Plan. Heartworm treatment takes approximately 7 – 8 months. Treatment involves several phases to kill all stages of the heartworms safely. It is very important to follow these steps to prevent having to undergo heartworm treatment more than once.

Why is it important to treat heartworms in dogs?

With heartworm disease, quick treatment is crucial to prevent irreversible tissue damage. The longer your dog has heartworms, the more complications with treatment and the greater damage is done to your pet’s heart and lungs.

What is the best medicine for heartworms in dogs?

We will administer the first dose of melarsomine, which is the only FDA approved drug to kill adult heartworms.The first week after this treatment it’s critical to closely monitor the dog, as this is the stage where the adult worms are actually dying. Complete rest is essential for recovery.

What to do if your dog has heartworm?

The best thing you can do for your dog once you know they’ve tested positive is to take them to a veterinarian for affordable heartworm treatment . Dogs with no signs or mild signs of heartworm disease have a very high success rate with treatment.

Can heartworm preventatives kill heartworms?

Heartworm preventative can’t kill the adult heartworms, but it can prevent any more heartworms from growing into adults and clogging your dog’s heart. We will check for the presence of microfilariae (baby heartworms) in your pet’s heart before administering heartworm prevention.

How much does it cost to treat heartworm in dogs?

The cost of treating dogs with heartworm usually runs around $1,000, but can be $500-$1,100 or more depending on the size of the dog and the stage of the disease. For cats, there is no known treatment for heartworm. However, cats seem to be more resistant to heartworm and, if infected, they sometimes recover on their own.

How long does it take for a dog to clear heartworms?

After much prayer, we gave him doxycycline and keep him on heartworm preventative. It will take up to 2 yrs for it to clear.

How much does heartgard cost for dogs?

Veterinarians and animal experts strongly urge dog and cat owners to give their pets preventative heartworm medication, which costs between $58 and $159 for a year's supply . The vet may also advise giving Heartgard to kill immature heartworms, since the initial treatment will likely only kill the adult worms.

What are the symptoms of heartworm in dogs?

What should be included: Heartworm symptoms include chronic coughing, tiring easily, unwillingness to exercise, difficulty breathing, lethargy and an enlarged abdomen. Treating heartworm in dogs is a lengthy and pricey process, and can be taxing on the dog's health.

How long does it take for a dog to test positive for heartworm?

When our dog was first tested for heartworm he was negative. A year or so later, he tested positive. The vet explained it could take 7 months for the heartworm to incubate and show up positive on the test. I took him to a new vet in hopes that the first place was wrong but he tested positive again.

What is the test for a dog with a syphilis?

First, the veterinarian will conduct diagnostic testing (also called doing a "work-up" of the dog), to determine how infected it is with the disease. This will include blood chemistries to check organ function, X-rays to look at heart and lungs and perhaps an ultrasound if the disease is severe.

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