Dan, the problem with giving heartworm medication without doing a heartworm test first is that if he has them, the medication could very well kill him. Can you look for a low-cost clinic somewhere around you where you could get his basic shots and a heartworm test? Once that is done, yes, heartworm meds can be found inexpensively...but it's just too dangerous to start them without finding out if he's heartworm positive first. It's very neat that you are taking care of Jack!

I am still trying to find a low cost clinic that will take care of me. When my last two dogs died about two years ago. I said I would never own a pet again. I felt sorry for Jack (took after my mother, she used to go over to the neighbors and unrevel the chain on the dog). I use to give Penny insulin shots till she died. It got to be very expensive. I don't own Jack. He was out by the road for two days that I know of. He saw me out by the mailbox and followed me home staying a few yards behind me. I live out in the country and the one vet out here does not take BC/BS.

Heartguard Plus is a combination of ivermectin, a broad-spectrum wormer available at any livestock feed store over the counter (or by mail order) and pyrantel for hookworms.

Prescriptions are required because dogs should be tested for heartworm before giving them ivermectin. If they have an existing heartworm infection, the wormer can kill them (and dogs with Collie blood are hypersensitive to it regardless of whether they're infected or not.) If you think he needs meds because you believe he's already infected, then Heartguard or Heartguard Plus is not the thing to give him.

If the dog can be tested free of heartworm, then certain horse wormer pastes can be substituted inexpensively ($3.50 - $10 per heartworm season) off-label. However, the dosages are tiny and the paste has to be transferred to a small syringe with 1/10cc markings to measure each monthly dose accurately.

Here is a link that might be useful: Off label use of Ivermectin and Equimax

You can get a blood test for around $25 from the vet. I use injectable Ivomec for heartworms for my dog (not a collie... important). I paid $35 for a bottle that could potentially last Lucy's entire life! I also use it for the llama, so I am able to use it a bit faster.
I use a very small syringe and give Lucy 4/10 of a cc. I squirt it into a hot dog and feed it to her. Pretty common practive amoung beaglers and kennels that raise bird dogs. I'm sure to keep Lucy on it most of the year (as it's so cheap) and that way her one blood test that was negative for heartworms will stay that way.
I'd suggest you get Jack a blood test w/ a heartworm test and then go that route if he tests negative.
Keep us posted!
Erin

If the dog looks like it has a specific breed in it, you can go online and maybe find a purebred dog rescue that could help with the cost of Jack's care. There are rescues that will help with dogs that are not purebred too. I think it is just easier to find them for purebred dogs. It might be that you could foster the dog for the rescue for awhile and, who knows, you and Jack might end up becoming a permanent team.

I agree with about everything thats been said. even that you dont own the dog. but--as is the case of all the strays that have came here--alas--the dog owns you! my last 3 have been here over 10 years. and--wasnt it lonely with no one to greet you when you came home?

Have you tried talking to the local vet to explain the situation? We recently changed vets because our old one stopped practicing in the US (I live on the border of Canada). When my rescued border collie started having a lot of seizures suddenly, inspite of his medication, I had to take him to the new vet. He needed a costly blood test. When the vet saw the look on my face when she told me the price she offered to do it at cost because we'd taken the dog in as a rescue. It was very kind of her.

Another option is animal control. When the shelter closest to me is full they'll offer to pay to take the animal to a vet if you'll keep it until they have room, or you adopt it. They might be helpful if you tell them you've been adopted by a dog that needs a trip to the vet.

colmesneil, how is the dog doing?

Hello again,
Took Jack to the vet. and he tested negative for heart worms. It cost $23.00. He is now on heart worm medicine.
Also got him a rabies shot. The vet. said he was mostly a pit bull mix with a glass eye. She estimated that Jack was about a year old. Now if he does not scare the electric meter reader everything will be allright. Thanks for the input.
Dan

I have a pitbull that was dumped on us 4 or 5 years ago and she's been the best dog I could ever ask for. Oliver (who's now 18 months) terrorizes her and she takes it all and LOVES it. No joke. The breed gets a bad reputation, but I'm telling you... they're one of the best breeds out There

Hi Dan,

I am so glad to read that you were able to get jack to the vet for a test. Now that the test was negative with the medicine he should be home free! You deserve a BIG pat on the back for taking him in.

We have rescued 4 of our dogs that have just wandered up to our home over the last 8 years. They just show up, we fed, fall in love, take to the vet and keep them all! We did have to ask for help for one of them to be fixed and her teeth to removed as they were infected, it was a local rescue business and of course when we were able we made a donation.

Good luck with Jack!

You will have loads of fun with Jack. In the last place we lived, we kept the gate shut and locked. The Hydro phoned us when the meter reader was coming so we could unlock the gate. Where we are now, the meter reader drives down each driveway. Our next door neighbour tells us that the meter reader stands on their driveway with his binoculars and reads our meter from there. I said to the neighbour one day that I came home as the meter reader drove out of their driveway, past ours and down the next folks driveway. That was why he didn't go down ours. Maybe you can contact them and won't have to worry about Jack. Good Luck

congrats on your new family member. rescued dogs know they are special. jack will reward you a thousand times over for your compassion. lucky lucky jack!