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My adopted dog is heartworm low-positive. What's the treatment?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 50 lbs

Hello, I need help understanding my recently adopted dog's medical records. She is heartworm "low-positive" and then was placed on heartworm preventative. I thought heartworm positive dogs should not be receiving preventatives because it can end up fatal. Additionally, she is currently on doxycycline (medication the adoption center provided) and am wondering what I need to do when it runs out. Am I supposed to find preventative medication? or just seek treatment?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on November 20th, 2019

A "low positive" may mean a low adult heartworm burden. The preventive is to kill any immature heartworm (microfilariae). The doxycyline is to kill the wolbachia bacteria. This is an organism that lives within the heartworm parasite as a symbiont. This portion of the treatment lasts 30 days after which medication is given via injection to kill adult heartworm. Treatment is outlined at the link below. https://d3ft8sckhnqim2.cloudfront.net/images/pdf/HeartwormTreatmentGuide_PetOwnerColor.pdf?1561720859

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