Man, you wouldn’t believe how many dogs we have that are heartworm positive! Every dog that makes its way through the shelter gets tested and right now we have 7 dogs who have tested positive for this deadly disease…and that’s just this week!
Unfortunately, not enough people know about this disease and how to prevent it, so that’s why we thought we should tell you all about it!
What is heartworm?
Heartworm is a deadly parasite affects certain mammals. When a dog is bit by an infected mosquito they can contract this disease, and when left untreated it is fatal. It makes dogs really sick because the worms grow in their hearts and lungs.
Can my other dogs get it if they come in contact with a heartworm positive dog?
No! Heartworm is caused by an infected mosquito and is not contagious.This means it also isn’t something that your dog can give to you. We would love for you to add a heartworm positive pet to your home!
How do you prevent it?
There are a variety of medicines that can be administered to help prevent this disease. From monthly pills, to monthly topicals, and even a shot that prevents it for 6 months, there are many ways to decide how to protect your pet! Consult your veterinarian for the best prevention method available for your specific animal. Prevention medicine costs less than a week’s worth of morning coffee! Your pet deserves to be protected.
What is the treatment for this disease?
Fortunately the treatment for heartworms has come a long way from the very dangerous one it used to be. Almost every dog survives the treatment and lives a full and happy life. Dogs receive 2-3 injections that help to kill the adult heartworms who live in the blood vessels of the dog’s heart.This treatment is extremely expensive (especially for bigger dogs) because the safest way to remove the heartworms is to do a series of tests to determine the treatment process needed before giving the dog its injections. Some dogs’ treatment can cost nearly $1000! Animals must remain calm during treatment, which makes it difficult for us to treat them at the shelter. This is why we wait for our animals to go through treatment until they have been adopted.
So, instead of putting your furry friend at risk, get them on some heartworm preventative to make sure they can live a long and happy life with you! (even if that means skipping your morning coffee run) And if you’re worried about adopting that heartworm positive dog we have, don’t worry, once they’re healthy they will live a long and happy life–and we often get donors who will support the cost of their treatment!
Want to help fund some treatment for our heartworm positive dogs?
Donate to our Giving Grid: https://www.givinggrid.com/medicineformutts
