Josie’s heartworm treatment

Hey everyone, my name is Casey Sharpe. I was driving down the road on Tuesday, July 12th when I came across a dog lying in a ditch. I thought she had been hit by a car. I stopped to assess the situation. She wasn’t moving, I had some snack sticks in my car that I tossed her way she wasn’t budging I knew she was in bad shape. I went and got food and water and came back she was still in the same spot. I gave her food and water which she ravished!

I called my vet (shandonwood animal clinic) and asked if they could see her. They said they didn’t have any openings but I took her anyway to scan for a microchip, upon arriving the techs examined her in the front seat of my car because she still wasn’t moving much. They realized she was in bad shape and they needed to take her inside, they wanted to keep her overnight. I picked her up the next day and you could tell she was doing so much better! Thankfully she had not been hit by a car she was just very dehydrated and lethargic from the heat, the pads on her paws were worn raw from her walking for so long and Clumps of her hair were falling out due to a skin infection.

She came home with us and we started to make a plan, first step find a name… We decided to name her Josie!

fast forward to her next more extensive checkup she had a heartworm test done that came back positive, she also has a skin infection. Josie is on two antibiotics one for the skin infection (cefpodoxime) and one to treat a bacteria that can be associated with the heart worms (Doxycycline). Josie is on a heart guard medicine that will kill the baby heart worms and prevent others from growing, but she will need a more extensive heartworm treatment to kill off the adult heart worms. Josie will get medicated baths twice a week for 4 weeks to treat the skin infection and she will be on antibiotics for 4 weeks before her heartworm treatment can begin.

Josie’s medical bills will be extensive and if there is any amount you can contribute to her it is much appreciated! If you could share Josie’s story we would be so thankful!

Josie is a sweet girl that has been through a lot and she has a long road ahead of her.

the day I met Josie it was by chance. I was taking a road to my parents house that I normally don’t use. I think it was fate I found her because If I hadn’t there is no doubt in my mind she would have died in that ditch! Thank you all so much for your consideration in donating to Josie’s treatment!