Timber's Life-Saving Veterinary Care

Hi! I'm Holly, and I am asking for help defraying the cost of urgent veterinary care for my heartworm-positive rescue dog, Timber. The funds will help pay for vet care and medicine to treat Timber for heartworm disease. This dog has saved my life, and now I'm trying to save hers.

 

Any additional funds will go toward minor surgery to remove two small masses from Timber's belly. (The masses are not related to Timber's heartworm illness.)

 

What is Heartworm Disease?

The heartworm is a mosquito-borne parasite that grows to around 12 inches long and lodges in a dog's heart and pulmonary arteries. The worms clog the blood vessels, causing inflammation and heart, lung, liver, and kidney damage. If left untreated, heartworm disease can lead to heart failure, blocked kidneys, or sudden death. The treatment is expensive, difficult, and lengthy.

 

The good news: Timber's prognosis is good!

We caught Timber's heartworm illness early. Following blood tests and chest x-rays, the Montana veterinarian treating Timber was hopeful that Timber would survive this life-threatening health issue.

 

 

Timber's heartworm treatment plan

Heartworm disease treatment takes a minimum of 5-6 months. Timber's treatment will follow these steps:

 

1. Timber will complete a 28-day course of high-dose antibiotics to kill the bacteria that nourish the heartworms. At the same time, she will take a tapered course of prednisone to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction as the worms begin to die. To prevent the dying worms from being pumped into the lungs and into smaller blood vessels, I must restrict her cardiovascular activities. Timber will also receive a daily probiotic to replenish her gut microbiome during the antibiotics.

 

2. She will continue to receive a standard monthly heartworm preventative, which will kill off any circulating larvae. (Larvae are the worms in the early stage of life.)

 

3. Two months after beginning antibiotic treatment, Timber will go to the vet for the first of three injections of melarsomine, a poison that kills the adult worms. She will also receive an antihistamine and start the second round of prednisone. Because a severe reaction to the injection can occur, she will spend the day under observation at the hospital. When she comes home, she will need to spend the next month on cage rest. This means she must not have ANY exercise or activity, due to the effect of the dying worms. (If you know my dog--and her energy--you understand how difficult this is going to be.)

 

4. One month after the first injection, Timber will go to the vet for a series of two more injections, one day apart. She will start the third round of prednisone. When she comes home, she will remain on cage rest an additional 6-8 weeks.

 

5. Timber will be tested for microfilaria (microscopic offspring of adult heartworms) at six months and for both microfilaria and adult heartworms after one year. If any result is positive, Timber will need to re-do some of these treatment steps. (Though I understand this to be rare, if the steps are followed properly.)

 

 

Holy smokes! What will all this cost?!

Here is a breakdown of the vet's estimate for Timber's heartworm treatment:

General examination: $ 79.00

House lab - Indexx CBC: $ 59.50

House lab - Indexx Chemistry 17 w/ Electrolytes: $ 142.50

Digital radiology - Thoracic Study 3 View: $ 200.00

Prednisone: $ 17.54

Doxycycline: $ 85.30

Medicines for hospitalized patient: $ 130.00

Rx injectable - Immiticide (Melarsomine): $ 721.00

Hospitalization: $ 78.00

Total: $1,512.84

(Note: we have already completed the initial examination, labs, and x-ray.)

 

 

Why I am asking for help

It is humbling to ask for financial assistance publicly--or privately, for that matter. I have never launched one of these fundraisers before, and I wouldn't be doing so now if I didn't feel it was necessary. Timber has become an important member of my family; I have to do everything I can to help her.

 

Like millions of Americans, the Covid-19 virus has impacted my health and my income. When I adopted Timber, I was capable of covering her food, medicine, vet care, and other basic necessities. I did not expect to suddenly need $1500 to cover urgent veterinary care out-of-pocket for a life-threatening illness. (Additionally, the minor surgery to remove the masses from Timber's belly will cost an additional $500.) In May, Timber and I moved to Montana, in order to be closer to my family.

 

Timber's heartworm test came back positive in Brooklyn in early April, and she immediately began treatment there. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn veterinarian dosed Timber's antibiotics incorrectly, which I didn't discover until seeking continuing vet care in Montana. So we had to start Timber's treatment all over again.

 

 

Who is Timber anyway?

Timber is a female catahoula leopard dog mix. Last September, at approximately 8 years of age, Timber was surrendered by her "owner / guardian" at a humane society near Bowling Green, Kentucky. I don't know why she was given up. (During intake, she tested negative for heartworms, but it usually takes at least six months for the antigen to show up on a blood test.)

 

The vet in Kentucky spayed Timber, brought her up-to-date on vaccinations, and shipped her to a dog rescue in New York City, where demand for adoptable dogs is high.

 

I had been looking to adopt a dog for more than a year. Covid-19 was rough on my physical and mental health. I searched for a rescue dog--a buddy to make the isolation less intense. One day last October, I saw this sweet dog on a Brooklyn street accompanied by her foster mom. Timber was wearing a little blue vest that said "Adopt me."

 

On October 23, 2021, I did. My life instantly improved. We are a dynamic duo. Timber just makes everything immeasurably better. She saved me, not the other way around.

 

(Above photo by Emily Johnson!)

Any help is appreciated from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.