Fundraising for Branna’s Heartworm treatment
Donation protected
Appeal for help with Branna’s veterinary treatment costs for Heartworm, (Dirofilaria Immitis).
Branna is a 3 year old, sweet-natured, Romanian Rescue dog.
She was reserved for me through ‘Pawprints To Freedom’ on 14th February 2019 and after having my application approved and having a home check with a dog behaviourist, it was all agreed. It was an exciting time!
I paid my adoption fee so her transport could be arranged. Then on 8th March 2019, I was told she’d screened positive for heartworm. This was the week before she was due to travel from Romania to the UK. I was told she had no clinical signs. It was early stages and it would be straightforward to treat. 10 days of antibiotics followed by monthly tablets, all provided. I thought treatment was going to be relatively simple.
I did not want to go through any more heartache or big vets bills having just lost my old dog, Flossie, in December, so I almost pulled out of the adoption. I wanted reassurance that I wasn’t going to end up with a compromised dog and more big vets bills, so I asked if the Romanian vet would send me a report about Branna’s condition. Someone from Pawprints rang to reassure me. I was told everything would be fine, the vet was good, the treatment effective, the heartworm in its early stages and the rescue helps pay for veterinary costs and sometimes even life-long care for dogs that arrive in the UK with pre-existing conditions.
On 16th March, Branna arrived in the UK. She was understandably traumatised after her long journey, but once she’d had a few days to rest and recover, we ventured out for her first few walks. I found her to be rather lacking in stamina and wondered if this could be indicative of the heartworm being a bit more established than they thought. She appeared to me to be rather exercise intolerant for a 3-year-old dog.
On 25th March, I took Branna for her first health check with my vet. After a very thorough 50-minute consult, my vet decided to refer Branna to cardiology. She warned me that heartworm is a very serious, life-threatening disease that could be expensive and difficult to treat and it wouldn’t be covered by my insurance as it was a pre-existing condition. I let the rescue know as the contract requires you to keep them informed.
Although we don’t normally have heartworm here in the UK, it is widespread across continental Europe and since hurricane Catrina struck in the United States, animals re-homed across the country have now spread the disease to areas where it typically had not existed before.
Branna’s cardiologist is basing the management of her case on the American Heart Worm Society guidelines, the world leaders in this area. https://www.heartwormsociety.org
The microscope blood test used in Romania can give false positive results associated with other types of heart worm infection, so her cardiologist vet here had to recheck Branna’s diagnosis with two tests (a Knotts test and an antigen test) necessary to confirm a diagnosis of Dirofilaria Immitis (these tests will need repeating multiple times over the course of her treatment) followed by screening with radiographs and echocardiography. This confirmed diagnosis with visualisation of heart worm in Branna’s right pulmonary artery.
She had just completed a 10-day course of Doxycycline and was given Ivermectin tablets for long term treatment, but the recommendations for the treatment of DI are quite specific and include the use of at least three different drugs at very specific times. Treatment with only Ivermectin is not recommended because of its slow effect and the need to restrict exercise, sometimes for years. There’s also concerns about its lack of efficacy and resistance.
Branna is currently taking another month's course of Doxycycline (daily), monthly Advocate, and will have Melmarsine injections in her back muscles in 1 month and in 2 months’ time. She may need to be crate rested and kept on lead when out in the garden for 6-8 weeks. In the meantime, she needs to avoid any unnecessary stress and excitement. She will also need repeat blood testing and heart scanning to monitor her progress.
Branna isn’t really supposed to be walked until her treatment finishes in 18 months to 2 years’ time. I love going for long country dog walks so I have bought Branna a second hand ‘All Terrain’ dog buggy so she can come with us.
I will also have to treat my other dog, Flynn, with Advocate every month, to minimise the risk to him of becoming infected, since he lives in the same household and there are already mosquitos around.
I didn’t know about all the risks or implications of heart worm infection and the rescue didn’t make me aware of any of this.
Fortunately, there is a good chance Branna will make a full recovery, but any over-exertion during the treatment period (and the treatment itself) carries an increased risk, as the dying worms can cause blockages resulting in collapse / death or cause further damage to the heart or lungs.
I hope that with the right treatment, good management and a bit of luck, she will have many active years ahead of her.
Of course, I factored in Branna’s adoption fee and all the other things I needed to buy for her into my budget. But nothing prepared me for such a big vet’s bill just 13 days after her arrival, with the certain knowledge there will be more to come over the next year or two, none of which is covered by my Pet Insurance.
I know many people don’t have much money either, but if you can share this link and / or spare a few quid, please help! Every little helps!
Your support is very much appreciated!
Thank you so much. xx
Branna is a 3 year old, sweet-natured, Romanian Rescue dog.
She was reserved for me through ‘Pawprints To Freedom’ on 14th February 2019 and after having my application approved and having a home check with a dog behaviourist, it was all agreed. It was an exciting time!
I paid my adoption fee so her transport could be arranged. Then on 8th March 2019, I was told she’d screened positive for heartworm. This was the week before she was due to travel from Romania to the UK. I was told she had no clinical signs. It was early stages and it would be straightforward to treat. 10 days of antibiotics followed by monthly tablets, all provided. I thought treatment was going to be relatively simple.
I did not want to go through any more heartache or big vets bills having just lost my old dog, Flossie, in December, so I almost pulled out of the adoption. I wanted reassurance that I wasn’t going to end up with a compromised dog and more big vets bills, so I asked if the Romanian vet would send me a report about Branna’s condition. Someone from Pawprints rang to reassure me. I was told everything would be fine, the vet was good, the treatment effective, the heartworm in its early stages and the rescue helps pay for veterinary costs and sometimes even life-long care for dogs that arrive in the UK with pre-existing conditions.
On 16th March, Branna arrived in the UK. She was understandably traumatised after her long journey, but once she’d had a few days to rest and recover, we ventured out for her first few walks. I found her to be rather lacking in stamina and wondered if this could be indicative of the heartworm being a bit more established than they thought. She appeared to me to be rather exercise intolerant for a 3-year-old dog.
On 25th March, I took Branna for her first health check with my vet. After a very thorough 50-minute consult, my vet decided to refer Branna to cardiology. She warned me that heartworm is a very serious, life-threatening disease that could be expensive and difficult to treat and it wouldn’t be covered by my insurance as it was a pre-existing condition. I let the rescue know as the contract requires you to keep them informed.
Although we don’t normally have heartworm here in the UK, it is widespread across continental Europe and since hurricane Catrina struck in the United States, animals re-homed across the country have now spread the disease to areas where it typically had not existed before.
Branna’s cardiologist is basing the management of her case on the American Heart Worm Society guidelines, the world leaders in this area. https://www.heartwormsociety.org
The microscope blood test used in Romania can give false positive results associated with other types of heart worm infection, so her cardiologist vet here had to recheck Branna’s diagnosis with two tests (a Knotts test and an antigen test) necessary to confirm a diagnosis of Dirofilaria Immitis (these tests will need repeating multiple times over the course of her treatment) followed by screening with radiographs and echocardiography. This confirmed diagnosis with visualisation of heart worm in Branna’s right pulmonary artery.
She had just completed a 10-day course of Doxycycline and was given Ivermectin tablets for long term treatment, but the recommendations for the treatment of DI are quite specific and include the use of at least three different drugs at very specific times. Treatment with only Ivermectin is not recommended because of its slow effect and the need to restrict exercise, sometimes for years. There’s also concerns about its lack of efficacy and resistance.
Branna is currently taking another month's course of Doxycycline (daily), monthly Advocate, and will have Melmarsine injections in her back muscles in 1 month and in 2 months’ time. She may need to be crate rested and kept on lead when out in the garden for 6-8 weeks. In the meantime, she needs to avoid any unnecessary stress and excitement. She will also need repeat blood testing and heart scanning to monitor her progress.
Branna isn’t really supposed to be walked until her treatment finishes in 18 months to 2 years’ time. I love going for long country dog walks so I have bought Branna a second hand ‘All Terrain’ dog buggy so she can come with us.
I will also have to treat my other dog, Flynn, with Advocate every month, to minimise the risk to him of becoming infected, since he lives in the same household and there are already mosquitos around.
I didn’t know about all the risks or implications of heart worm infection and the rescue didn’t make me aware of any of this.
Fortunately, there is a good chance Branna will make a full recovery, but any over-exertion during the treatment period (and the treatment itself) carries an increased risk, as the dying worms can cause blockages resulting in collapse / death or cause further damage to the heart or lungs.
I hope that with the right treatment, good management and a bit of luck, she will have many active years ahead of her.
Of course, I factored in Branna’s adoption fee and all the other things I needed to buy for her into my budget. But nothing prepared me for such a big vet’s bill just 13 days after her arrival, with the certain knowledge there will be more to come over the next year or two, none of which is covered by my Pet Insurance.
I know many people don’t have much money either, but if you can share this link and / or spare a few quid, please help! Every little helps!
Your support is very much appreciated!
Thank you so much. xx
Organizer
Olga Da Polga
Organizer
England
