SHENANDOAH SHEPHERD RESCUE

Because Every Dog Deserves a Home

Heartworm Treatment
Listed below are the preferred clinics for heartworm treatment. If you are
not located near any of these, please let us know so we can find an
appropriate facility.

Harrisonburg Location: Manassas Location:

1992 Medical Avenue 9975 Pennsylvania Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Manassas, VA 20110
harrisonburg@anicira.org manassas@anicira.org
540-437-1980 (ph) 571-208-0199 (ph)
540-437-1982 (fax) 571-208-0321 (fax)

Heartworm Treatment includes:

Physical Exam
A confirmatory heartworm test
Necessary antibiotics for one month
Necessary steroids for two months
Three melarsomine injections with sedation and pain medication

Heartworm Treatment Fees (Harrisonburg/Manassas)

1-22 pounds $350/$400
23-44 pounds $425/$475
45-66 pounds $525/$575
67-88 pounds $550/$625
88-110 pounds $675/$750
Radiographs (chest X-Rays), available by request $75

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 SHENANDOAH SHEPHERD RESCUE
Because Every Dog Deserves a Home

Norfolk SPCA (HEARTWORM TREATMENT)

916 Ballentine Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23504
757-622-3319 x 136 (Megen)

*What is heartworm disease and how did my dog acquire this disease?
Heartworm disease is caused by infestation with Dirofilaria immitis, a parasite that
primarily infects dogs and other canids. Adult worms live in the vessels of the lungs
surrounding the heart and can cause severe disease in the lungs leading to coughing,
exercise intolerance, weight loss, collapse, or congestive heart failure. The parasite is
transmitted by mosquitoes and is not directly contagious between dogs.

*What does treatment involve?

The goal of heartworm treatment is to improve the clinical condition of your dog and to
eliminate all life stages of the heartworms with minimal post-treatment complications.
Because the parasite develops slowly and the medication we give only targets certain life
stages of the parasite, a single dose of medication is not sufficient to clear an infestation.
Treatment will take 3-6 months in order to kill 99% of the worms.

*What are the risks associated with treatment? Can they be reduced?
The risks associated with treatment are minimal compared to the risks associated with
the disease. Risks include inflammation of the lungs and worm fragments blocking
vessels within the lungs. Most risks can be greatly diminished with exercise restriction. It
is important to follow your vet recommendations and to restrict activity for 4-6 weeks
following injections.
http://harrisonburg.anicira.org/services-2/heartworm-treatment

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