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<blockquote data-quote="SoonerDVM" data-source="post: 1291200" data-attributes="member: 7961">I&#039;ll put it here for everyone who might be interested.<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ask first about the pre-diagnostics. At an absolute bare minimum, they should do x-rays before starting treatment. That helps &quot;stage&quot; how bad the heartworm disease is, and also gives you something to compare if something goes wrong - you take a follow-up x-ray and see something on the film, you need to know if it was there before the treatment or not.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">EKG is important to make sure the heart is functioning properly.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis to make sure the body is healthy enough to withstand the treatment.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ask if they&#039;re using a &quot;fast kill&quot; or a &quot;slow kill&quot; method, and if they say they&#039;re using the &quot;fast kill,&quot; ask if they&#039;re sure it will be safe in your dog.</li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Also, you should ask about pain medication, and any other medications along with it.</li>
</ul>If you have a vet who has no problem treating for heartworms without at LEAST x-rays first, turn and run away. You probably don&#039;t even want to know what other medical shortcuts that guy is taking.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="SoonerDVM, post: 1291200, member: 7961"] I'll put it here for everyone who might be interested. [LIST] [*]Ask first about the pre-diagnostics. At an absolute bare minimum, they should do x-rays before starting treatment. That helps "stage" how bad the heartworm disease is, and also gives you something to compare if something goes wrong - you take a follow-up x-ray and see something on the film, you need to know if it was there before the treatment or not. [*]EKG is important to make sure the heart is functioning properly. [*]CBC, chemistry, and urinalysis to make sure the body is healthy enough to withstand the treatment. [*]Ask if they're using a "fast kill" or a "slow kill" method, and if they say they're using the "fast kill," ask if they're sure it will be safe in your dog. [*]Also, you should ask about pain medication, and any other medications along with it.[/LIST] If you have a vet who has no problem treating for heartworms without at LEAST x-rays first, turn and run away. You probably don't even want to know what other medical shortcuts that guy is taking. [/QUOTE]

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