Clinical assessment of post-adulticide complications in Dirofilaria immitis-naturally infected dogs treated with doxycycline and ivermectin

Abstract

This study shows that a combination of doxycycline (10mg/kg/sid for 30 days) and ivermectin (6 μg/kg/every 15 days for 6 months) is well tolerated for the treatment of canine heartworm disease (HWD). Monthly echocardiography showed that 84% of treated dogs either progressively improved parameters indicative of pulmonary hypertension or, following slight worsening, resolved all signs. Thoracic radiography showed the persistence of interstitial inflammation, even though also in this case, approximately 70% of the dogs steadily improved or worsened but then improved by the end of the study.

Keywords: Cardiac ultrasound; Dirofilaria immitis; Doxycycline; Ivermectin; Melarsomine.