(July 24, 2017) Mickey and Easy Carl, very sweet and easy going males, who both tested heartworm positive, when we first rescued them.
On July 6th, Mickey completed his second and third intramuscular injections, 24 hours apart, of the very toxic and painful, arsenic based substance to kill the worms. We have been giving him meds for the pain and inflammation caused by the immitcide, and he is doing well. He has about another month to stay quiet, in case any dying worms are still flowing through his circulatory system. Easy Carl has dodged a proverbial bullet. Although he tested positive in three tests in March and April, when a confirming heartworm test was done in June, on the day of his first treatment, the result came up negative. Three more subsequent tests, with different methods and different labs, also returned a negative result. The veterinary specialists at U.C. Davis agreed to consider him as a heartworm negative dog, on regular monthly heartworm prevention; and to be re-tested in 6-months. If he should test postive again at that time, we are prepared to pay for his treatment from the remaining funds that so many people very generously contributed for the treatment of both dogs.
We are also very happy to report that both Mickey and Carl have wonderful new loving homes! Thank you so much for your interest in and support for both of these incredibly sweet dogs!