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HEARTWORM TREATMENT

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​Does this look like the face of a heartworm-infected dog? No? Were you thinking only big dogs get heartworms? Only outdoor dogs? Only certain breeds of dogs? Well this is Seren, a three year old, small terrier mix who is currently being treated for heartworms by Dallas Dog. In Texas, any dog (or cat) can become infected with heartworms. We have some of the highest incidence rates of heartworms in the country. If animals aren’t on preventative heartworm medication here, there is a strong possibility that they will become heartworm positive. Not only do heartworms cause suffering and death, but they are expensive to treat. Seren’s heartworm treatment cost the rescue $400. Last year, we had 170 heartworm positive dogs come into the reacue. The treatment for those dogs was nearly $90,000. Heartworm preventatives are much less expensive than heartworm treatment, but it still costs around $10 per dog every month to prevent heartworms. Dallas Dog spent over $47,000 last year to provide heartworm preventatives to our rescued dogs to ensure they don’t suffer and die from heartworms. So, how can you help? If you could sponsor one dog’s heartworm preventatives for one month ($10) or contribute what you can to Seren’s and our other heartworm positive dogs’ heartworm treatments, you can help save the life of one of our rescued dogs. It is that simple. $10. Please help and please share.

The goal of this campaign is to raise money for the heartworm positive animals that Dallas Dog saves, improve general awareness of what heartworm disease is, and increase the number of pet parents investing in heartworm prevention for their fur-babies. Dallas Dog Rescue covers the treatment costs for all dogs who test positive for heartworm disease while in our care until treatment is completed. Aside from that, there are a couple key points we want to get across through this campaign:​

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  • Heartworm disease is preventable. If caught early enough, heartworm disease is treatable (for dogs). 

  • Heartworm treatment can be expensive, making prevention extremely important and cost effective. 

  • Heartworm prevention is often perceived as too expensive as an additional animal care cost (particularly in under-served communities). 

  • Heartworm is not contagious by contact (it has to be transmitted through infected mosquitoes). 

  • Heartworm positive animals deserve forever homes too!