A Vet Visit and a Lesson on DNA HW Testing

Published on by Xena, Lucy and Chia

Xena: How did you like your  bath, Lucy? This is the first one I ever saw you get.

Lucy: It wasn’t bad, especially with Mom in the tub with me. And I want to be clean and smell good to go visit my friends at the vet’s. I even got a pretty scarf.Lucy and Xena: Is it time to go yet, Mom?

Xena: Hey back there! Lucy! What are they going to do to us when we get there?

Lucy: Hmm, I think they’re going to pet us and give us treats.

40 minutes later

Lucy: Hi nice vet lady. What’s your name and where did they take my little sister? Tell the other nice lady to not give her treats. She gave me a treat and Mom yelled at her. Well, she didn’t exactly yell. But Mom told her I’m not allowed to have those kind ’cause of me being on the raw diet. I don’t want the other lady to get in trouble with my Mom.

Dr. Karen: Lucy, sweetheart, you don’t have to worry about Xena getting treats. We are taking a little bit of blood from her leg, just like we’re going to do with you. It doesn’t hurt much, just a quick pinch. 

Lucy: Why are you stealing our blood?

Dr. Karen: Your Mom asked us to do a DNA Heartworm test. That way you don’t have to take heartworm prevention, because it lets us know even if there are tiny little baby heartworms in your blood. If there are, one shot will kill them. The difference between this and what’s called the occult test is the occult heartworm test only lets us know if the heartworms have grown up and are around your heart. Then it is hard and dangerous to kill them. So we are going to do this every 5 1/2 months to make sure you and your little sister are safe from the big bad heartworms.

A little later, after blood is drawn and bill is paid.

Lucy: Wasn’t that fun, Xena? We got new friends and we’re going home now. I lost over five pounds, too. I weigh 51 point 7 pounds. And I heard them say you are up to 15 pounds! You are getting to be a big girl, Xexe. 

Xena: They also squirted some medicine in my mouth (bordetella) and stuck another needle in my butt (3-year rabies). Yep. Fun. *sigh* I’m going to sleep now. Wake me when we get home.

Mom’s note: I started asking myself, “Why am I poisoning my dog every month?” And of course, my answer was so that she didn’t get heartworms, as well as fleas and ticks.  Then I found out about DNA testing for heartworms. It catches any that are present while still in the early stages (microfilea), and they can easily be killed with one shot of ivermectin. The DNA HW test must be repeated every 5 1/2 months. The cost is also less or the same as monthly heartworm prevention, depending on what your dog weighs. I urge you to read about it here. There is also a recipe for all natural flea and tick prevention, as well as mosquito repellent, using essential oils.

I feel like I am slowly navigating my way through a “brave, new world,” defying all the traditional ways our veterinarians are taught to care for our dogs and cats, and learning new, safer ways to keep them safe; ways that my holistic vet wholly embraces. I feel very blessed and less alone to have Dr. Karen by my side on this new journey with my girls.

24 thoughts on “A Vet Visit and a Lesson on DNA HW Testing”

  2. hello lucy and xena its dennis the vizsla dog hay that blud test and a shot if needed shoor duz sownd better then having to eet sumthing eeven a littel bit poyzonus eetch munth!!! i giv yore mama vizsla tail wags for finding noo ways to keep yoo happy and helthy!!! ok bye

    Liked by 1 person

  4. There’s a reason why most people – even my holistic vet – don’t know about it. If this caught on, it would be the end of giving HW prevention, which would hurt the big drug companies, who help fund many of the vet schools.

    Like

  7. I gotta admit you girls were so good so much better than I am. You don’t get treats even a bit ….that’s not fair. We need treats….tell your mom to loosen up and bring your treats with her when you are so good at the vets.

    Shoko

    Liked by 1 person

  8. That’s how I feel too. Glad you don’t have the heartworm issue in your area. We are in an endemic part of the country.

    Like

  9. That is great! No sense in treating unless you have to. I am glad that we don’t have an issue with heartworm and rarely fleas in our area and we only treat for flea and ticks if we are camping.
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

    Liked by 1 person

  15. you are two fabulous brave pups!!! that was interesting to read about that heartworm prevention we will read to find out more. we had no heartworms here for centuries, but now they enter our area too and because we are not familiar with that it often ends not so good….

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’m glad you understand. My two will only be getting rabies every 3 years (state law), bordetella if they are going somewhere that requires it, and then a titer for distemper every 3 years. I’ve switched to essential oils shampoo and they get krill oil and now phytoplankton instead of the fish oil. I may have to consult you, too, as I have only been at this about a year. 🙂

    Like

  23. Hari OM
    This is excellent news, Xena and Lucy… I love that your mum thinks holistically. As a homoeopath, my angels Jade and Jasper were treated entirely by this method, except for the puppy and kitten shots. Their vet was all for it and even would consult with me if he had other clients wanting an alternative to the mega-poisons which are generally administered. Those things are good too – but really ought to be given in smaller doses. Oh, you can tell I’s passionate about this can’t ya??! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.