Breathing becomes more difficult as the disease progresses. Congestive heart failure ensues, and the once-active, outgoing pet is in grave danger. If a blood test or the onset of symptoms alert owner and veterinarian to the presence of this devastating parasite, treatment is possible and successful if the disease has not progressed too far. The first step is to evaluate the dog and treat any secondary problems of heart failure or liver or kidney insufficiency so that he can withstand the treatment. The drug is administered in two doses each day for two days, followed by several weeks of inactivity to give the dog's system a chance to absorb the dead worms.
Exertion can cause the dead worms to dislodge, travel to the lungs, and cause death.
Six weeks after the administration of the drug to kill the adult worms, further treatment to kill the microfilariae is needed. The dog is dosed daily for a week , then the blood test is repeated. If microfilariae are still present, the dose can be increased. Follow-up studies should be done in a year. Even if the dog, the owner, and the owner's pocketbook survive the treatment, the dog can be reinfected the next time a mosquito bites.