[Shawna]

Hmmm Losul, I think I’d want the x-ray or ultrasound for sure then.. As Patty said, even if it shows nothing it tells you something. I know I have been told that they can determine the extent of the infection but I don’t recall how.

I found the below, regarding staging, on Dogaware
“Heartworm infection is divided into four or five stages (depending on the model used), based on the severity of the infestation and the age and health of the dog.

Stage 1 (mild) consists of young, healthy dogs with no symptoms and minimal changes evident on X-rays.

Moderate (stage 2) infection will show heartworm disease that is evident on X-rays, but symptoms are minimal, mostly coughing. Stage 3 is a severe infection, with weight loss, coughing, difficulty breathing, more damage visible on X-rays, along with liver and/or kidney damage.

Stage 4 and 5 are considered critical, with the dog often collapsing in shock. These dogs will not survive ordinary heartworm treatment, and must have the worms surgically removed if they are to have any hope of survival.”

Has he coughed at all? I did a QUICK google search and didn’t see anything linking shaking with heartworm disease. I did see “tremors” so googled “tremors heartworm”. All I got from that is side effects of preventatives.. May just be coincidental??

• This reply was modified 12 years ago by Shawna.