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The gold standard of heartworm treatment based on the American Heartworm Society's recommendations is melarsomine injections because they eliminate the adult heartworms quickly. However, if that treatment isn't available or isn't financially possible, we can use an alternative protocol with moxidectin and doxycycline. Studies show that about half of dogs test negative by six months and nearly all by twelve months.

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

Pre-Treatment Bloodwork and Chest X-rays

Pre-Treatment Bloodwork and Chest X-Rays

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pre-Treatment Bloodwork and Chest X-rays

Pricing Based on Protocol

Regardless of which heartworm treatment protocol you choose, you pay as you go—you are not required to pay the full cost of treatment upfront.

Step 1:

Treatment is started for as little as $127, which includes:

Comprehensive examination: $70
Doxycycline: $20
Simparica Trio: $37

As treatment progresses, you'll simply pay for each visit and medication as it is needed. Our goal is to make heartworm treatment as affordable and accessible as possible while providing quality care for your pet.

Step 2:

Heartworm Prevention:

We place each patient on prevention based on owners preference and budget:

Simparica Trio ( chew given monthly): $37/month or $444/year
- Covers heartworms, deworms, fleas, ticks, screwworm, mange, intestinal parasites

ProHeart12 (given as an annual injection) ProHeart12 paired with Bravecto Quantum is the same coverage as Simparica Trio in 2 easy annual injections). In patients under 50lbs, you save money to receive the injections. For example, it would be $311 for 26-50lbs vs $444 for the year of Simparica Trio.
- ProHeart12
  - $78 (<25lbs)
  - $105 (26-50lbs)
  - $145 (51-75lbs)
  - $190 (76-100lbs)
  - $230 (101-150lbs)
  - $345(151-200lbs)
- Bravecto Quantum
  - $126 (<25lbs)
  - $206 (26-50lbs)
  - $309 (51-100lbs)
  - $387 (101-150lbs)
  - $520 (151-200lbs)

Step 3: Diagnostics

Bloodwork ($200) & x-rays ($200): more information under the Pre-Treatment Bloodwork & Chest X-Rays

Step 4: Melarsomine vs Moxi+Doxy Protocol

Melarsomine protocol:

Melarosmine injections are given in the lumbar muscles. Gabapentin for possible pain associated with the injection/mild sedation is sent home along with trazodone for anxiety/mild sedation. Prednisone will be sent home in case of coughing/reaction to death of the worms.

1st injection visit to include melarsomine, gabaapentin, trazodone, & prednisone.
- 0-44lbs: $110
- 45-88lbs: $205
- 89-132lbs: $345
- 133-176lbs: $395
2nd & 3rd injection visit to include melarsomine, gabapentin, trazodone, and prednisone
- 0-22lbs: $110
- 23-44lbs: $210
- 45-66lbs: $315
- 67-88lbs: $425
- 89-110lbs: $525
- 111-132lbs: $620

Retest for heartworms 6 months after the last melarsomine injection.

Moxi+doxy protocol:

By this point, your dog has already completed the 28-day course of doxycycline (approximately $20) and has been started on your chosen heartworm preventive—either Simparica Trio or ProHeart 12 (with or without Bravecto Quantum)

From here, treatment is simple. Continue administering your dog's monthly heartworm preventive (or follow the ProHeart 12 schedule) while keeping your dog exercise restricted. A heartworm test can be performed as early as 6 months after starting treatment, or you may choose to wait and retest at your dog's next annual wellness visit, often at the time of the annual rabies vaccine.

Contact

Our goal is to help your furry family member live the longest, healthiest life possible while providing compassionate, affordable care that fits your budget.

clinic@godsdogsrescue.org

210-952-1112