We believe that Star is a 2-3 year old Shih-tzu mix. What we do know is that she is a beautiful girl who has been good with the other dogs she has met and that she does all her potties outside. What we also know is that she is heart worm positive.
If Star had remained in Alabama without treatment her heart worm would have certainly been a death sentence. But, now that she's with Fluffy Dog Rescue she is being treated for the disease. The treatment is very uncomfortable for the dog. The treatment consists of two shots of Immiticide which are administered in the dog's back muscles and are given 24 hours apart. Sound painful? That's the easy part. The hard part for the dog occurs over the next several weeks while the heart worms die from the immiticide and are absorbed into the dog's system. It's almost like chemotherapy.
I don't mean to scare off any potential adopter by sharing this. What I do hope is to remind people that administering monthly heart worm preventative is a heck of a lot easier for the dog and the owner versus heart worm treatment. Heart worm preventative is easy. It costs about $10/month and it comes in a chewable form that dogs enjoy just like a treat. Heart worm treatment can be pricey and makes the dog very uncomfortable during the treatment.
Star received her treatment this week and will spend the next three weeks relaxing in her foster home. She is uncomfortable and breathing heavily but still wants to be around her foster dad. Her foster mom and dad (my mom and Bob) are not bloggers...so I am blogging for them. They tell me she is a beautiful and sweet girl. She has been quiet and low key in their home (even before her treatment started). She is doing well with their three dogs (two beagles and a shih-tzu) and has left the cat alone. They tell me that she does not appear to shed. They are just loving having her in their home.
Once Star is done with her treatment she should stay on monthly heart worm preventative for the next two years. In Illinois and Wisconsin we typically keep dogs on heartworm preventative about 9 months a year, so she'll just need those few extra months for the next two years at a minimum.
In the video below you'll see that she is social and wants attention but that she's breathing heavy and just not feeling great. After the next few weeks she will feel so much better!
After the next three weeks of rest she'll be ready to go to her forever home and will just need to remain on monthly preventative.
Thanks for reading and thanks for thinking rescue.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
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| She was not feeling great after her treatment and found the soft cushioned throw rug in the bathroom |
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| She is beautiful and has a mostly white coat with some bits of light tan. She is about 20 pounds. Her hair is very soft and will need regular grooming. Maybe she's shih-tzu and bichon? |
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| Here is the van that arrived from Alabama. The cars belong to drivers from various rescues who will load up their dogs and take them on the next leg of their journey |
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| Here is Star getting her first heart worm treatment injection. Pet owners....you want to avoid this. Monthly heart worm preventative is the way that you can avoid this treatment. |
