Koda went in for bloodwork and radiographs yesterday, they weren't able to tell me exactly what stage he's in (my primary vet is working in conjunction with the other vet in the practice there, then they're both in contact with another vet in Gilbert AND the Humane Society because apparently they treat more cases of heartworm there and have more experience), but they were able to tell me from the x-rays that they can tell that his heart his strained, but it isn't too bad. This is their course of treatment right now, but they're going to talk to the other vet in Gilbert and the Humane Society and see if they have another recommendation, if not, this is what they plan to do:
First, get him on Heartgard to take care of some of the Microfilaria and treat with Doxycycline for 30 days (There's 120 pills. 2 every 12 hours = 4 a day. 120/4 = 30). This is where I'm a little confused though, she showed me a little chart that we're going to follow with a timeline of the treatment of a 4 month period, it looked kind of like this (I used my great Photoshop skills):
HG is the Heartgard treatment, which he will be on the rest of his life obviously, DX is the Doxycycline, which we started now in M1 (Month 1), then in M2 and M3 (Months 3 and 4) is when the IC (Immiticide shots) come in (We're going to figure out if we want to do the 2 or 3 shot method when we get there), but what I'm confused about is, what's going on in month 2? And should he be on Heartgard at the same time as the Immiticide treatment? I just wanted to check with you guys and make sure this sounds right. I don't think I misread the chart that the vet showed me. I'm going to call her today and make sure I got the timeline right, but if I did, again, what's happening in month 2? Is the Heartgard still working on the Microfilaria? I think I'm just missing something...