Bella's heartworm positive
Donation protected
Bella tested positive for heartworms on July 27th. It was devastating to hear the news because I never thought it would happen to my fur baby. The recommended treatment costs over$2800 and doesn't always mean the pet will have a full recovery and some pets have been known to pass away from the aggressive treatment.
Because of my limited finances, our Vet recommended we start what some refer to as a "slow kill" method for a year.
This requires an initial x-ray as well as a follow up x-ray in six months. Each x-ray is $210 but the veterinarian's office is willing to give a slight discount if paying in cash bills. In addition to the x-rays being slightly discounted if paying in cash she must have 2 heartworm tests; one at the six month and one at the year mark. Each test costs $42 but cash discount is $38.
She will then be on a monthly regimen of Doxycycline which will run $40 a month. In addition to this medication, she will be on a steroid monthly for the first six months. The medication if purchased directly at the vet office will cost $20 but the vet understands the limited resources I have for finances and is willing to write an actual RX so I can take to a local pharmacy that dispenses pet medications for a lower cost. By going this route the steroid medication monthly will run $10 and will be a savings of half.
Every month for the next year she will have to take a heartworm prevention tablet to help aid in not being reinfected and will also aid in killing the microfilariae in her blood system and will sterilize the adult heartworms from my understanding. So this in time will kill the adult heartworms. Currently, the vet office is running a special for this medication (Quadriguard) it normally costs $37.78 but is currently on sale for $18.89. The vet office has made notes in my folder than come refill time in six months even though the sale price will be over, to honor it for us, so for a whole year it will cost what a six month box would have cost ($37.78).
We are hoping the retest in six months comes out negative and if not, we will remain hopeful that by the one year mark she will be healed with minimal damage to her organs.
I am not asking for the entire amount to be funded. I know first hand how we all have our own personal finances but Bella and I as well as her human brother and sister, will be forever grateful for any donation that comes our way. She has always been an important member of our family. Every Christmas my parents and family include her in the gift giving, they celebrate her birthday, love on her as much as they can when they visit.
Here is an actual breakdown for what the treatment will cost after the year mark. As you can see the donation amount is below this.
2 x-rays (cash cost $200 each) $400
12 month box of Quadriguard $37.98
6 month round of Steroid $60
12 month round of Doxycycline $480
2 heartworm tests at the 6 month mark and 12 month mark (cash cost $38 each) $76
5 office visits (one in August, October, December, April, and July) $250 at each office visit at $50
Actual total for treatment $1103.98 this was still over $1700 less than the very aggressive preferred treatment.
As stated above, we are remaining positive and hopeful that she will test negative and be free and clear which is why I did not list the donation at the full cost.
May God Bless you and may he continue to keep our Bella in his hands.
*I have uploaded a screenshot of our monthly treatment plan outlining the monthly cost. Starting this month in August, the amount will be a bit lower as we already purchased the Quadriguard and the Prednisone will be called in to a local Pharmacy for half. This doesn’t include the $50 office visit. For August our monthly total will be $101.15.
Off Months (September, November, January, February, March, May, and June) will not have the $50 office visit. It will strictly be refill medications at $51.15.
Our December visit will be slightly more as this will have both medications as well the purchase of the next 6 month box of Quadriguard and heartworm test. Treatment cost for December will be $158.04. This includes office visit, all three medications, and heartworm test.
If we secure enough funding to cover the X-ray this month in August her second X-ray will be in January.
Because of my limited finances, our Vet recommended we start what some refer to as a "slow kill" method for a year.
This requires an initial x-ray as well as a follow up x-ray in six months. Each x-ray is $210 but the veterinarian's office is willing to give a slight discount if paying in cash bills. In addition to the x-rays being slightly discounted if paying in cash she must have 2 heartworm tests; one at the six month and one at the year mark. Each test costs $42 but cash discount is $38.
She will then be on a monthly regimen of Doxycycline which will run $40 a month. In addition to this medication, she will be on a steroid monthly for the first six months. The medication if purchased directly at the vet office will cost $20 but the vet understands the limited resources I have for finances and is willing to write an actual RX so I can take to a local pharmacy that dispenses pet medications for a lower cost. By going this route the steroid medication monthly will run $10 and will be a savings of half.
Every month for the next year she will have to take a heartworm prevention tablet to help aid in not being reinfected and will also aid in killing the microfilariae in her blood system and will sterilize the adult heartworms from my understanding. So this in time will kill the adult heartworms. Currently, the vet office is running a special for this medication (Quadriguard) it normally costs $37.78 but is currently on sale for $18.89. The vet office has made notes in my folder than come refill time in six months even though the sale price will be over, to honor it for us, so for a whole year it will cost what a six month box would have cost ($37.78).
We are hoping the retest in six months comes out negative and if not, we will remain hopeful that by the one year mark she will be healed with minimal damage to her organs.
I am not asking for the entire amount to be funded. I know first hand how we all have our own personal finances but Bella and I as well as her human brother and sister, will be forever grateful for any donation that comes our way. She has always been an important member of our family. Every Christmas my parents and family include her in the gift giving, they celebrate her birthday, love on her as much as they can when they visit.
Here is an actual breakdown for what the treatment will cost after the year mark. As you can see the donation amount is below this.
2 x-rays (cash cost $200 each) $400
12 month box of Quadriguard $37.98
6 month round of Steroid $60
12 month round of Doxycycline $480
2 heartworm tests at the 6 month mark and 12 month mark (cash cost $38 each) $76
5 office visits (one in August, October, December, April, and July) $250 at each office visit at $50
Actual total for treatment $1103.98 this was still over $1700 less than the very aggressive preferred treatment.
As stated above, we are remaining positive and hopeful that she will test negative and be free and clear which is why I did not list the donation at the full cost.
May God Bless you and may he continue to keep our Bella in his hands.
*I have uploaded a screenshot of our monthly treatment plan outlining the monthly cost. Starting this month in August, the amount will be a bit lower as we already purchased the Quadriguard and the Prednisone will be called in to a local Pharmacy for half. This doesn’t include the $50 office visit. For August our monthly total will be $101.15.
Off Months (September, November, January, February, March, May, and June) will not have the $50 office visit. It will strictly be refill medications at $51.15.
Our December visit will be slightly more as this will have both medications as well the purchase of the next 6 month box of Quadriguard and heartworm test. Treatment cost for December will be $158.04. This includes office visit, all three medications, and heartworm test.
If we secure enough funding to cover the X-ray this month in August her second X-ray will be in January.
Organizer
Valerie Paez
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
