How And Where To Treat A Dog With Heartworms?

[AdamFrick]

I am trying to bring my beloved dog with me to Bangkok in four weeks. I just found out he tests positive for heartworms, which is obviously a crushing discovery. I am not sure whether there are veterinarians in Bangkok who can successfully treat a dog for heartworms, and if so, whether the treatment is more or less affordable than in the United States (supposedly only rich people have dogs in Bangkok, and that luxuries like competent vet service leads to a huge price markup). I want to bring my dog with me because he's part of my family, but I do not want to put him in danger or make him (or me) miserable. Some people have posted that dogs will have a terrible time in Bangkok, and at this point I'm beginning to wonder whether my dog wouldn't be best served with a new owner who can get him proper treatment in the United States. Any advice (recommended vets who are bilingual? ballpark figures for cost of heartworm treatment, NOT prevention?) would be much appreciated! Adam (and my dog Chester)

[meatboy]

there is a posting of heartworm on the page2,what dog is it?i am a dog lover and rescued a alaskan husky,we have had him 5months now and wouldnt sell at any price,but it is not fair that these dogs and others with thick coats were allowed to be bred but t.i.t. there are good vets and bad ones never mind what country your in,we were lucky we found a good one,ours was treated for many problems but he came through them all,heartworm is a big problem in thailand with all the mossys,if he has heartworm has your vet said it is cureable.as a lover of dogs i would only recomend that you find him a good home it will be very hard to leave him/her behind but owning a dog in thailand is not a thing we will do again there are so many things that can happen its not fair,allthough there are only 50houses where we live i see things happening every day and i have got to harden up because it rearly pisses me off[cant keep my mouth shut] ours has an injection every 2months against heartworm.

[Mrjlh]

Find a new home for your dog. It's the best for you and the dog. Other than a few responsible owners here, most dogs are left to fend for themselves. They roam freely. Which means if you plan to walk your dog (even on a leash) it will most likely encounter a "Soi Dog". And you don't know what that dog has or is carrying. There are really no safe places to run your dog at all except if you buy a house with sufficient land to run him and it's fenced in and he's never taken out. If he escapes then you've got other problems. Some will tell you there are places to run him but those locations are not common. It's a tropical country and along with comes other dangers your dog has not been exposed to unless you live is Florida.

Find him a nice home.

Edited May 26, 2011 by Mrjlh

[meatboy]

Find a new home for your dog. It's the best for you and the dog. Other than a few responsible owners here, most dogs are left to fend for themselves. They roam freely. Which means if you plan to walk your dog (even on a leash) it will most likely encounter a "Soi Dog". And you don't know what that dog has or is carrying. There are really no safe places to run your dog at all except if you buy a house with sufficient land to run him and it's fenced in and he's never taken out. If he escapes then you've got other problems. Some will tell you there are places to run him but those locations are not common. It's a tropical country and along with comes other dangers your dog has not been exposed to unless you live is Florida.

Find him a nice home.

i totally agree with mrjlh says ours had got loose before we had him he was lucky we saved his life,read what i posted in this forum dog shredding,i have just spoke to my vet and he said heartworm is treatable but the dog has rough time for a few weeks,but with the heat and the humidity here it will be very hard for him.

[Gary A]

It is important to treat the dog as soon as possible. The drugs required to kill heart-worms are also poison for the dog. If the dog is weak, the drugs will kill him as well as the heart-worms.

[isanbirder]

If I were you, I would get the dog treated before sending him to Thailand. Come yourself first, and send him later when he has recovered. I have had two dogs with heartworm here, and can tell you the treatment is like chemotherapy in humans... pretty nasty (my vet wouldn't let me see them when they were under treatment).

There are perfectly competent vets in Thailand; your best bet as a newcomer is to take him to a clinic operated by one of the university vet schools (Kasetsart in Bangkok, CMU in Chiangmai). The treatment is not all that expensive, though I forget how much.

[AdamFrick]

Many thanks to all who responded--I have to say that I'm still leaning to taking my dog to Thailand, if only because I'm trying to have every safeguard handy, knowing that there will be challenges. I honestly wouldn't trust another owner to look after him as well as I will, even if he's going to Bangkok, because the stateside owner would almost certainly be someone I don't know. My wife and I will be looking for a townhouse with a backyard around Onnut or Phrakanong (sp?), or another BTS stop near there, and we plan on keeping the dog indoors or in the yard. I found several vets through people's posts here and I feel a lot more confident about treating the dog upon arrival. Plus, I live in New Orleans now, so my dog is pretty well conditioned to tropical weather (and staying inside where there is some A/C!!).

One thing that I'm definitely not clear on is the danger of soi dogs. Everyone writes about them, but I can't gauge whether it's a problem or a bona fide pandemic. My dog is a Mastiff mix and is very peaceful but is strong enough to take down any dog that comes at him if necessary, and probably without even drawing blood. I've lived in developing countries that have stray dogs and know how to handle strays. Given that we're going to be in a slightly more suburban area and if I have my dog indoors or in a gated yard most of the time, just how much risk are we talking about here? Are there packs of violent and wild dogs at every corner of the city? Knowing that I can't let him roam freely, is it simply impossible to take my dog for a walk around the block a couple times a day?

Thanks again to all for your input--I obviously want to keep my dog, and I don't want to push the envelope here until I'm clearly acting crazy, but I'm hoping there's some way I can pull this off--so far, while the way to go about it is limiting, I still think this is possible.

[Mrjlh]

Just a thought...If you decide to bring your dog to Thailand, better check to see what the quarantine requirements are first. Then if you decide to return you have the same problem there too.

[Mrjlh]

Many thanks to all who responded--I have to say that I'm still leaning to taking my dog to Thailand, if only because I'm trying to have every safeguard handy, knowing that there will be challenges. I honestly wouldn't trust another owner to look after him as well as I will, even if he's going to Bangkok, because the stateside owner would almost certainly be someone I don't know. My wife and I will be looking for a townhouse with a backyard around Onnut or Phrakanong (sp?), or another BTS stop near there, and we plan on keeping the dog indoors or in the yard. I found several vets through people's posts here and I feel a lot more confident about treating the dog upon arrival. Plus, I live in New Orleans now, so my dog is pretty well conditioned to tropical weather (and staying inside where there is some A/C!!).

One thing that I'm definitely not clear on is the danger of soi dogs. Everyone writes about them, but I can't gauge whether it's a problem or a bona fide pandemic. My dog is a Mastiff mix and is very peaceful but is strong enough to take down any dog that comes at him if necessary, and probably without even drawing blood. I've lived in developing countries that have stray dogs and know how to handle strays. Given that we're going to be in a slightly more suburban area and if I have my dog indoors or in a gated yard most of the time, just how much risk are we talking about here? Are there packs of violent and wild dogs at every corner of the city? Knowing that I can't let him roam freely, is it simply impossible to take my dog for a walk around the block a couple times a day?

Thanks again to all for your input--I obviously want to keep my dog, and I don't want to push the envelope here until I'm clearly acting crazy, but I'm hoping there's some way I can pull this off--so far, while the way to go about it is limiting, I still think this is possible.

First, I live in Bangkok and I don't know any condos here that have back yards. This is not America. Second, if you rent/buy a condo they will take small dogs and definitely not a Mastiff. Third, you'll need a house in that area to get the yard. Not CHEAP! Fourth, when it comes to Soi Dogs, we are not kidding you as to their reputation. Soi dogs are ownrd but not controlled. They run in packs too. Not all are Rabies protected either. Your dog is not going to be happy and in time neither will you.

I think people here have given you some sound advice. If you insist on bringing your dog I suggest you look for a house outside of the city. In doing so you'll need a car/truck for transportation to get around. Taxis will not take a big dog so you'll need to get transportation. Many adjustments to be made here. Personally, I think you have this rosy view of life here. Think it over.

One last thing, there are places in Thailand where you and your family including the dog will be happy. In any big city, it will not work. Just the way it is here. And the nice parks do not allow dogs even on leashes. Or at least the ones I have seen. They have signs prohibiting them. Wheter they enforce it or not is abnormal issue.

Edited May 26, 2011 by Mrjlh

[meatboy]

every thing that has been said is sound advice,we live in a 50house mooban which has a 8ft wall arround but it does not stop strays from walking in straight past security,you dont now what these dogs are carrying,there are so many minuses to owning a dog in thailand you got to think is it worth it,eg.snakes,poison frogs and most of all mosquitoes.as a dog lover i am going to post what i would do,i have already said this is my first in los and my last not to mention we have 170 square wah of land.when i was a kid my mum/dad took in my uncles dog who was a beautyfull red setter and i loved that dog more than anything,when my uncle moved he took the dog and sold him[we were poor so we could not buy her] after 1year i was picked to play football for a local team to play away [50miles] half time this dirty dog came up to me she must have reconised me as she jump up and started to make a fuss it was red my beloved freind so i wont say anymore other than i got fined £130 for asault on the owner.since then i have had many dogs but have never never let one go to another owner read into that what you want.

[dotx]

I'm not sure what experiences you guys have had with dogs, but mine are not even close to what's being described here. I came to Thailand with two dogs. One had serious liver problems and required ongoing treatment. I was able to find all the proper medication and the vets at Thonglor (liver specialists) were amazing. My dog's liver is now back to normal.

While here, I also adopted a soi dog. She was about a year old and the sweetest dog in the world (so much for all soi dogs being vicious) when I took her in. She tested positive for heartworm. Because her infection seems to be stage 1 (see here: http://www.petrescue...lay?PageID=5811), we're treating her with ivermectin (slow kill method). She has no symptoms and is otherwise a very healthy dog. Depending on how your dog is doing, that might be a good choice for him too.

By the way, there's no quarantine in Thailand as long as you have all the proper paperwork with you when you arrive.

I live in a complex and I would recommend the same for anybody who has dogs. That way you can get a house with a nice yard. Despite what I've heard some people say, I've never had trouble finding a rental that would allow pets (and one of my dogs is huge!). I've always rented houses, though, so I'm not sure about condos/apartments. While you can't really take your dog for walks outside (street), you can definitively walk him on a leash if you live inside a complex. My complex is really good about this: no dogs running around unleashed, so everybody's safe. Soi dogs can't get in (there's really no way).

As for the heat and humidity... my dogs spend most of the day inside the house, with the AC. Unless you plan on keeping your dog outside all the time (or never turning the AC on), I don't think the weather is that big of an issue.

I would NEVER give up my dogs (they've lived with me in three different countries), partly because I love them to death and partly because I know nobody else would care for them the way I do. If you're willing to plan things well, you'll be fine (PM if you have questions!).

Edited May 31, 2011 by dotx

[meatboy]

some good info dotx.we must have the same vet , as ours had many problems but he is fine,i did post that he wont come in during the night,last night i watched footi on telle so mrs meat went to bed,the dog was asleep in the downstairs shower room ,when the match finished i went to let the dog out nowhere to be seen he had gone upstairs looking for the mrs and was fast asleep on the floor with aircon on,must have slept well because 6am he was bouncing.

[dotx]

<br />some good info dotx.we must have the same vet , as ours had many problems but he is fine,i did post that he wont come in during the night,last night i watched footi on telle so mrs meat went to bed,the dog was asleep in the downstairs shower room ,when the match finished i went to let the dog out nowhere to be seen he had gone upstairs looking for the mrs and was fast asleep on the floor with aircon on,must have slept well because 6am he was bouncing.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Yeah, I wasn't talking about your dog. I meant the OP's dog. Mine have to be physically pushed to go outside in the morning! dam_n dogs are too spoiled Glad your dog slept inside! Maybe he'll get used to the AC too

[meatboy]

heartworm is getting a big problem everywhere 100mts away an owner lost his 2dogs with it he didnt keep up the treatment, i am so pleased if i can get ours to come in at night we light 6burners to try and keep the mossys at bay every night put a large fan on for him as well but they still get to him,this new stain of striped are hard to keep off.

[dotx]

heartworm is getting a big problem everywhere 100mts away an owner lost his 2dogs with it he didnt keep up the treatment, i am so pleased if i can get ours to come in at night we light 6burners to try and keep the mossys at bay every night put a large fan on for him as well but they still get to him,this new stain of striped are hard to keep off.

Yeah, my other two dogs take Heartguard and so far no problems. I've been here a year and before I lived almost two years in Vietnam (also huge problems with heartworm there), so I've been doing the Heartguard thing for a while. I don't have a lot of mosquitoes inside the house but still. Vet here told me basically all soi dogs have heartworm (which makes sense, if you think about it). It's actually quite sad.

Edited May 31, 2011 by dotx

[AdamFrick]

heartworm is getting a big problem everywhere 100mts away an owner lost his 2dogs with it he didnt keep up the treatment, i am so pleased if i can get ours to come in at night we light 6burners to try and keep the mossys at bay every night put a large fan on for him as well but they still get to him,this new stain of striped are hard to keep off.

Yeah, my other two dogs take Heartguard and so far no problems. I've been here a year and before I lived almost two years in Vietnam (also huge problems with heartworm there), so I've been doing the Heartguard thing for a while. I don't have a lot of mosquitoes inside the house but still. Vet here told me basically all soi dogs have heartworm (which makes sense, if you think about it). It's actually quite sad.

[AdamFrick]

Wow. I never cease to be amazed by the wide range of responses I get when I ask people about bringing a dog to Bangkok. It sounds like 99% of the expats say it's the most reckless idea in the world (and perhaps for good reason), while the other 1% are actually dog owners who have taken plenty of precautions and are happily juggling the responsibilities. I agree with Dotx about the TLC my dog will get with me as an owner as opposed to leaving him in the U.S.; I took him back to the shelter I got him from a few days ago just to ask about the chances of him finding a good home, and the owner of the kennel just said, without question, he'd be better off with me in Bangkok than waiting for a new owner, as he'd probably get euthanized after a year of waiting in line behind a bunch of other dogs.

I'd like to think that anything is possible in terms of caring for him in Bangkok, if only because the love someone has for his or her pet will power one through all the responsibilities required to pull it all off. We're all set for paperwork stateside too.

We shall see. I fly out of JFK airport June 18th and arrive on the 20th. I'll need a kennel to pick up my dog Chester and give him a place to sleep for a few nights while my wife and I look for housing within walking distance (no cars! I've heard enough about Bangkok traffic!) of the last few stops on the Skytrain heading out from the Sukhomvit 'hood...I just hope I'm right to be fairly optimistic that I'll find a complex or a straight-up house that far out?

[dotx]

Wow. I never cease to be amazed by the wide range of responses I get when I ask people about bringing a dog to Bangkok. It sounds like 99% of the expats say it's the most reckless idea in the world (and perhaps for good reason), while the other 1% are actually dog owners who have taken plenty of precautions and are happily juggling the responsibilities. I agree with Dotx about the TLC my dog will get with me as an owner as opposed to leaving him in the U.S.; I took him back to the shelter I got him from a few days ago just to ask about the chances of him finding a good home, and the owner of the kennel just said, without question, he'd be better off with me in Bangkok than waiting for a new owner, as he'd probably get euthanized after a year of waiting in line behind a bunch of other dogs.

I'd like to think that anything is possible in terms of caring for him in Bangkok, if only because the love someone has for his or her pet will power one through all the responsibilities required to pull it all off. We're all set for paperwork stateside too.

We shall see. I fly out of JFK airport June 18th and arrive on the 20th. I'll need a kennel to pick up my dog Chester and give him a place to sleep for a few nights while my wife and I look for housing within walking distance (no cars! I've heard enough about Bangkok traffic!) of the last few stops on the Skytrain heading out from the Sukhomvit 'hood...I just hope I'm right to be fairly optimistic that I'll find a complex or a straight-up house that far out?

I sent you a PM.

Consider renting a house for a month, in advance. That's what I did (I've done the same thing in other countries before). Rented it over the internet, from a very reliable real estate (you pay only for a month, no commission). When I got here, I just moved into the house with the dogs. That gave me a month to look around until I found a place to rent for a year. Less stress, cheaper than a hotel, and you don't have the pressure of having to find something in a couple of days.

[muratremix]

Hi guys,

i also brought a terrier mix from my homeland (Turkey). Now our dog lives with my wifey's mother in a village in Buriram. i wonder if its better to let dog live on village than bangkok? i have no idea what kind of extra vaccination is necessary in Thailand because we dont have diseases like heartworm in my homeland. Also, why its dam_n hard to find pet frirndly condo?

[F1fanatic]

Hi guys,

i also brought a terrier mix from my homeland (Turkey). Now our dog lives with my wifey's mother in a village in Buriram. i wonder if its better to let dog live on village than bangkok? i have no idea what kind of extra vaccination is necessary in Thailand because we dont have diseases like heartworm in my homeland. Also, why its dam_n hard to find pet frirndly condo?

Yes, unless you are able to give your dogs enough exercise, any pet that is used to being able to run around is better off in a village than in a condo.

IF - the village owners make sure the dogs are vaccinated every year and are prepared to give them the HeartGuard tablets every month...... and that is a big 'if'.

I've lived here with an imported dog (from the UK) for about 5 years now, and find that the major problem is tick bites giving him a parasite. There is nothing that can be done to prevent this as whilst Frontline etc. kills off the ticks, its only after they've bitten the dog....

My poor (imported) dog has nearly died a couple of times from the blood parasites he contracted from tick bites. Fortunately I realised that he 'wasn't quite right' v quickly and he was lucky enough to survive.

Snake bites used to be my major fear, but now its tick bite parasites.

[muratremix]

Hi,

My wife's mother take our dog to Veterinary today. They vaccinated for internal parasite, which suprisingly protects against HeartWorm aswell today. They say they don't have falang vaccine but this is thai one. Do I need to worry about Heart Worm disase? In my country I vaccinate my dog every 3 months for internal parasite. Here, I have no idea.

[bina]

to the guy/woman from turkey, ivermectic in the injection for parasites every three months; its the smae in thailand turkey here in israel and also in all other countries: there are various companies, and forms of the basic same drug: all for various parasites. the same stuff used as drops on chickens, birds/parrots, orally for horses, shots for goats/sheep and surprisingly enough given to people against scabies in some third world countries...

village life does not always suit all dogs as some folks do not have farang style housing in the village, but shacks or stilted houses with no yard to speak of; so unless the dogs have lived outdoors with other roaming dogs, it might not suit...

bina

israel

cant think why not have dog come over if u can keep indoors walked and cared for.