LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Dogs

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Hi Bill,

Frankly, I'm a little amazed your vet doesn't think your dog should be on preventative. Yes, you probably don't need it year around with those harsh winters, but your dog certainly needs to be on preventative during mosquito season. My advice is to have your dog tested to determine its current status, and then put your pet on preventative right away if the tests come back clear.

Thanks for your question. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I live in the far north eastern tip of Michigan's Upper Penninsula and don't travel. One vet told me my dog doesn't need heartworm prevention due to the long hard winters. We have mosquitoes like Jurrasic Park in the summer. I don't have a lot of money, but if there is a real danger, I'll spring for it. What do you think?

-- Contributed by: Bill

Hi Donny,

Heartworm isn't shed in the stool, but there are plenty of other intestinal worms that are. Your best course of action is to take a stool sample to your vet for analysis. Your vet will determine exactly which type of worms your dog has and then precribe the exact drug needed to get rid of them.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your dog is soon on the road to recovery. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my puppy has recently passed a clear wire type stool.after looking at heartworm pictures on the internet found there is a similarity in the stool passed earlier. Help me to understand what is going on i am very concerned

-- Contributed by: donny

My dog seems to be experiencing spiratic hypertension & I looked here for a possible cause. Although he is normal most of the time (but highly strung), he has episodes whereby his heart is racing & is panting alot, & wants cuddles, this can last 10-15 minutes & cannot be settled with a bribe of a favourite treat. He is a chihuahua about 12 yo. What is the likely cause?

Hi Sharon,

It's possible that this could be attributed to arrythmia (irregular heartbeat), but your vet would need to run some tests to assess the condition of your dog's heart. I would go ahead and make an appointment with your vet to discuss what's going on and let him/her take a closer look.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your vet is able to diagnose the situation.

-- Contributed by: sharon

Hi Scotty,

As far as I understand it, no, you wouldn't be able to see evidence of heartworms in this manner. However, if you are observing something of this nature in your own dog, it's very important to alert your vet to the problem right away. This would be a sign of another type of parasitic infestation that would require medication to eradicate.

Thanks for an interesting question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

hi it sounds a little crazy but can a heart worm be seen traveling through the dogs musculure tissuses like say can i see them?

-- Contributed by: scotty

Hi Beth,

You should add some apples and blueberries to that natural diet to round out her nutrition, but I do not believe the diet you are feeding is the cause of the problem.

The gel is probably a large amount of mucus which could signal a bacterial infection. Black stools usually indicate the presence of digested blood. The stools combined with her refusal to drink water and weakened state indicate a dire need to take her to your vet right away. Be prepared that the vet will probably want to keep her and start an IV to replace her lost fluids. Then he/she will begin work on a diagnosis and treatment.

Keep a close eye on your other Doxies in case this turns out to be something contagious.

You have my very best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My Doxie, Lucy has been ill for now, 4 days. No appetite. Black gel-like diahrrea, very lethargic and will only go out if we take her. She is one and a half. We have 2 younger doxie's that are fine.The only thing past her lips are ice cubes we hold for her. We only feed her home made food, a mixture of boiled chicken, egg, rice, and vegetables. What could this be?

-- Contributed by: Beth

Hi Travis,

I'm not a vet, so please follow up with your vet to let him/her know that your dog's appetite has not returned. Low albumin is sometimes associated with liver problems, but liver disease can be secondary to other illnesses. Your vet will need to review the results of the complete blood work to get a lead on a diagnosis. Don't hesitate to push for answers.

In the meantime, it's very important to keep your dog eating and drinking. Boiled chicken is very good for him, so serve it with some of the water you boiled it in to get more fluid in him. Just make sure it has cooled sufficiently before you serve it. You might also boil some brown rice with the chicken to make the meal more balanced.

Hopefully your dog will regain some strength and his appetite on this special diet. Be sure to let your vet know what you're feeding.

I sincerely hope your dog is feeling better soon.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My golden has always had a strong appetite but recently he had a bout of vommiting and diarhea. Both have stopped but so has his appetite. He will not eat his regular Science Diet Allergen Free food. He will eat boiled chicken but thats about it. Blood test revealed low glucose, and Albumin. If these sypmtoms riing a bell please reply.

-- Contributed by: Travis
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