Trouble - A Victim of PH6
This Site is dedicated to Trouble for others to hear his story. Trouble did NOT deserve to die the way he did. Had I only done more research on the ProHeart 6 Heartworm Injection, Trouble would be alive today. THERE ARE MANY OTHER DOG OWNERS THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY I DO ABOUT PROHEART 6. Trouble died from “Pulmonary Thromboembolism’s (Thromboembolism’s result from the obstruction of blood flow through pulmonary arteries due to the presence of dead heartworms).
On August 20th, 2002,Trouble received the PH6 shot in conjunction with other annual vaccines by a clinic that was close to my office by Vet #1. Within 5-7 days, he began with a slight cough once a day which eventually progressed to three times within one hour as of the 3-4th week. He also began to pant more and more. Upon seeing this, I immediately took him to his regular vet - Vet (#2). Vet #2 told me he thought he had an enlarged heart, fluid on the lungs, heart murmur and a bacterial infection...after blood work, x-rays, etc. He was put on Baytril. Trouble had an extremely elevated white blood count and ran a high fever. Over the next few days, his heart appeared to be beating so heavy it would come out of his chest. Vet was not sure if it was his heart or lungs. Trouble refused to eat. Vet #2 took lab work, blood tests and xrays and at my request reported to Fort Dodge that I blamed the PH6 shot for my dog’s illness – since he was very healthy before the shot. Trouble was 11 years old – a senior, but do not judge him by age, he could still jump into the back of a truck. He was a German Shorthaired Pointer/Rottweiler Mix. He was in very good health for a dog his age. Upon my claiming that the shot had caused him to become sick, Fort Dodge was contacted upon my insistence by Vet #2. Fort Dodge offered and I allowed them to pay for some of the initial lab work performed at that time. The vet reported to Fort Dodge the following: Slight cough and leaking urine. For everyone’s knowledge, Fort Dodge is required to report any PH6 adverse reactions to the FDA within 15 days from the date the claim is filed. I have been told that the FDA is monitoring this product, closely.
While waiting on results on the x-rays (all this within one week), my dog was rapidly losing weight due to lack of appetite and I called Vet #2 what could he do about it. More important was his heavy breathing that concerned me. I was very concerned his heart could give out. After other medications, Trouble was still not eating and I was running out of time, while waiting on the opinion of the radiologist. I called Vet #2, told out of town, so called another vet and made an appointment - Trouble was declining rapidly. I informed Vet #3 that I wanted a second opinion about his condition. Upon Vet #3 calling Vet #2’s office, they were told that "I suspected PH6 as creating his condition". It was then Vet #2 reported to me that the radiologist saw "spots" on his lungs - but x-rays were blurred. I went to Vet #3 because I felt Vet #2 was not giving my dog prompt attention and Trouble was going downhill - fast.
Vet #3 consisted of two women vets - examine Trouble and tell me he has a heart murmur size 2-4 of a 6. Poke around on his throat, listen to lungs, more x-rays and blood work taken. We schedule an ultrasound to examine his heart condition. Another antibiotic drug is prescribed along with the Baytrill for Trouble. Troubles blood work revealed Highly elevate white count and low platelets. The WBC, however had only increased by about 15%. Vet stated a good thing. Trouble continues to lose weight – refuses to eat. Cooked him steaks, hamburger, lunchmeat, chicken – whatever I could think would make him desire food. Only managed to eat a few times. He was becoming lethargic. That evening Vet #3 calls telling me he has a lung infection, dog is old - heart giving out - valve problems, heart murmur - nothing they can do except recommend me to an internist.
So, I wait a day trying to decide what other route I could take, homeopathy? Trouble is with me in my car and - starts coughing again, really having a hard time breathing....so out of desperation and crying, I called Vet #3 and talked to partner. She, stated she could put him on a steroid (Predisone) in order to help with his appetite I explained to VET #3, that I really did not quite understand what the diagnosis was. I made an appointment with her to see x-rays the next morning. The steroid Predisone did pick his appetite up that evening. Now Trouble is beginning to lose his hair!
Next morning I visit with Vet #3’s partner to review x-rays and to receive a DIAGNOSIS. Trouble was diagnosed as having Endocarditis and a secondary lung infection, that he also has an enlarged heart and heart murmur (please look up Endocarditis at PetPlace.com which is a bacterial infection involving the valves of the heart). Vet #3 and her partner recommends for me to take Trouble to an internist at Gulf Coast Veteinary Clinic, Texas.
So, next day I call the Vet they referred me to., cannot see Trouble same day. (Trouble is really becoming more and more lethargic, walking very slowly,losing weight, very wobbly) So he refers me to another Internist. I go to this vets office same day – October 11th. Vet #4 - internist.....examines his tests, takes his own x-ray and states that he does NOT have Endocarditis - but has lung cancer. Vet #4 reviewed the x-ray and showed me how the spots on his lungs were cancer. Vet #4 stated he did not have an enlarged heart and why. Upon inquiring about the fact that I thought ProHeart 6 caused these problems in my dog, since he was very healthy prior to receipt of the shot, I was told “it is highly unlikely that ProHeart 6 affected your dog”. This EXACT STATEMENT, PER WORD HAD BEEN REPEATED TO ME BY ALL FOUR VETS. I though it odd, they would use the exact same sentence!
I asked Vet #4 (crying) how long Trouble had the and was informed “about two months”. Note, the PH6 shot was given to Trouble on 8-20 SAME TIMEFRAME AS THE CANCER ARRIVED! Vet #4 told me that if it were his dog that he would take him home and spend the weekend and then put him to sleep. He said there was NOTHING anyone could do for him, no chemo (due to weakness/weight, etc.) and no radiation.
Trouble and I spent the weekend together which was very difficult since he was breathing so heavy. I discovered that the only food he would eat at this point, was cut up chicken necks. He quit eating Monday night (10/14) and I force fed him on Tuesday. On Wednesday night he became worse and my boyfriend arrived at 2am to help me take him to the vet to put him asleep. Trouble could still walk and believe it or not, could jump into the floor board and up into the seat. I laid him down on the back seat on a comforter and cried all the way to the vet. I went into the vets office to make arrangements TO EUTHANIZE HIM and upon returning to the car, Trouble refused to leave the car. He had NEVER dis-obeyed me before. My boyfriend was on one side of the car and I on the other and we began dragging the comforter so we could pick him up….he got up and went to the other side of the car….we knew he did not want to die at this place. David and I looked at each other and decided that it was EVIDENT, HE CHOSE TO DIE WITH US – NOT IN A VET’S OFFICE..
Trouble and I stayed up all night and the next morning, I called the vet because he was suffering so and made an appointment to put him to sleep again at 6:30 pm. Trouble became very ill around 2pm and had a thick yellow substance coming from his mouth. I wiped his little mouth and we placed him in the comforter and carried him to the car and lifted him into the back seat of my SUV. I sat on the floor and tried to comfort him as best I could and tell him how much I loved him and was so sorry for “listening to that vet that assured me how safe PH6 was”. “lease forgive me, Trouble, I will NEVER, EVER FORGET YOU!” He looked at me so strangely, then lifted his head as though he was going to howl and breathed one long last breath and DIED. I was hysterical….it was so awful to see him die this way.
I BEG ANY OF YOU CONSIDERING USING THIS SHOT TO RECONSIDER – AFTER ALL, IS IT NOT OUR LAZINESS IN NOT WANTING TO WORRY WITH GIVING THEM A PILL EACH MONTH THAT MOTIVATES US TO GIVE THE SHOT IN THE FIRST PLACE?
After this, I began investigating Proheart 6……..I found a Veterinarian that was for the DOGS and not the MONEY. This Veterinarian, Dr. Bob Rogers upon hearing Trouble’s story told me that Trouble died from “Pulmonary Thromboembolism’s” (blood clots due to dying heartworms) which were in the lungs. He knew of other dogs as well and at that time, he showed me the form he used to “influence his clients as to his feeling about this product”. He began to educate me about the heartworm process.
On August 28th, 2003, the latest Dear Doctor Letter came out at the insistence of the FDA. This Letter states exactly what Trouble died from with NEW instructions to Veterinarians to NOT administer PH6 to heartworm positive dogs. What about the dogs, like mine that test Negative, but are Positive? The most recent Dear Doctor Letter can be found at www.proheartinformation.freecyberzone.com . My new Veterinarian studied Trouble’s test results and x-rays and told me he was willing to certify that PH6 was responsible for Troubles death. Furthermore, Dr. Rogers travels and holds seminars regarding “Over-vaccinating” and also usesTroubles picture, test results and x-rays to educate people as to WHAT PH6 CAN DO IF GIVEN TO A HEARTWORM POSITIVE DOG. Please note that Trouble tested negative, but no test is 100% effective and thus if your dog could have heartworms, they could go undetected as Troubles did (running out of product, the dog spitting the tablet out, etc. etc.), you are putting your dog at RISK by using this product, “in my opinion”.
PLEASE, PLEASE RESEARCH THIS PRODUCT THOROUGHLY BEFORE ALLOWING IT TO BE GIVEN TO YOUR DOG. PLEASE, DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE I DID AND JUST LISTEN TO THE VET…….NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU HAVE KNOWN THE VET. RESEARCH THIS PRODUCT, HEAR WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES WITH THIS PRODUCT……MORE THAN ANYTHING, DO NOT GIVE THIS SHOT TO A SENIOR DOG. YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU LISTENED, IT MAY SAVE YOUR DOGS LIFE!
