The Full Story

Melarsomine vs Moxi+Doxy Protocols

• Melarsomine protocol:

  • Gold standard & FDA approved

  • Kills adult worms quickly and minimizes the duration of pulmonary damage.

  • Exercise Restriction is recommended due to chance of Pulmonary Thromboembolism

  • Heartworm Prevention Started - Moxidectin in the form of Simparica Trio or ProHeart12

  • Doxycycline given for 28 days

  • Day 60: Melarsomine injection in lumbar muscles

  • Day 90 & 91: two Melarsomine injections given within 24 hours

  • Retest as early as 6 months after Melarsomine injections

• Moxi+doxy protocol:

  • An off-label alternative when melarsomine is unavailable or financially impossible.

  • Approximately 90–95% of dogs will test antigen-negative by 6 months, with nearly all clearing by about 10–12 months

  • Exercise Restriction is recommended due to chance of Pulmonary Thromboembolism

  • Heartworm Prevention Started - Moxidectin in the form of Simparica Trio or ProHeart12

  • Doxycycline given for 28 days

  • Retest as early as 6 months after starting doxycycline

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Pre-Treatment Bloodwork and Chest X-Rays

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At God's Dogs Rescue Veterinary Clinic, our goal is to make heartworm treatment as affordable as possible while still providing quality medical care. We understand that every family's financial situation is different, so these diagnostics are strongly recommended but not required before beginning treatment.

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Pre-treatment bloodwork ($200) helps us evaluate your dog's overall health and organ function. Melarsomine, the medication used to kill adult heartworms, is a form of arsenic. Evaluating liver and kidney function beforehand helps us identify patients who may need additional monitoring or a modified treatment plan. Bloodwork can also detect other underlying conditions, such as anemia, infection, or metabolic disease, that may affect treatment or recovery.

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Chest x-rays ($200) help us determine how heartworm disease has affected your dog's heart and lungs. Heartworms can cause enlargement of the pulmonary arteries, inflammation within the lungs, and changes to the heart itself. X-rays may also identify other conditions—such as pneumonia, heart disease, or certain types of cancer—that could change our treatment recommendations or your pet's prognosis.

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In addition to helping us assess the severity of disease, chest x-rays establish a baseline before treatment begins. If your dog develops coughing, difficulty breathing, or other respiratory signs during treatment, repeat x-rays can be compared to the original images to help determine whether these changes are expected from dying heartworms or are caused by another medical condition.

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While many dogs can be successfully treated without these diagnostics, we believe they provide valuable information that helps us deliver the safest care possible and allows us to better monitor your pet throughout treatment. Whenever financially feasible, we strongly encourage bloodwork and chest x-rays as part of your dog's heartworm treatment plan.