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One in 27 dogs in Houston will be diagnosed with Heartworms, yet it is completely preventable. It is vital to keep your dogs on Heartworm prevention monthly. Heartworms are spread through mosquitoes, so inside and outside dogs are at risk. The worms damage the heart and can lead to complications if left untreated. Adopting or fostering a Heartworm positive dog doesn’t add any additional risk to your current pets.
Because of the prevalence in Texas, my rescue takes in many Heartworm positive dogs. The good news is we can treat it. There are two main protocols of treatment: “slow kill” and “fast kill.” Because “slow kill” treatment allows the worms to live out their life cycle and further damage the heart, we proceed with “fast kill” treatment for all dogs who don’t have severe medical reasons preventing them from receiving (decided with vet and cardiologist support). This video walks through a typical “fast kill” two-injection Heartworm treatment protocol.
Not pictured: upon receiving a Heartworm diagnosis, the dog must go through 30 days on Doxycycline and 30 days off Doxycycline. All dogs continue to receive Heartworm prevention as normal. We use Proheart 6-month for all prevention. After injections, dog must be kept on 30 days of strict rest. We recommend crating your dog and then doing short leash walks for potty breaks. Avoid playing with housemates and anything that would increase heart rate and make the dog pant. Stock up on enrichment activities for crate time like puzzles, and ask your vet about medicine to help them keep calm as needed. A lot of rescues will cover the cost of Heartworm treatment, though not all. The cost widely varies on state you’re in and private vs low cost clinics. We average spending $800 total on treatment for Heartworm positive dogs.
This is a quick summary of treatment and should not take the place of vet advice. Please talk with your vet before giving any medications and to make a plan for treatment. Learn more about Heartworms in dogs at www.heartwormsociety.org
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05/17/2025
In April 2023, I was asked to help with a sad case. A family who started out with good intentions of taking in strays now had an extreme hoarding case of dozens of small breeds needing help. I went to assist in getting those small dogs into rescue. But while I was there, a quiet, older pittie girl popped her head up. I asked who she was, and they responded “oh she doesn’t have a name.” That could have been the end of her story, but it was just the beginning of the best few years of her life.
I brought the senior, unwanted pittie home that day. I named her Eula May and promised her love until the end, no matter what. She was diagnosed with cancer and had surgery to remove tumors. While I expected to keep her until she passed, a good friend and fellow rescuer fell in love with her. She adopted her into her big family, and Eula lived those next two years with more love than she could ever imagine.
Today, Eula’s family brought her to the beach, and I got to said goodbye. Eula’s cancer has progressed aggressively, and she is suffering. Her poor body is riddled with painful tumors, and we know it is time. We wish we could’ve shown her more amazing years, but she is ready. My heart is so full knowing how much love her life has been filled with. And as her mama reminded me “it’s not goodbye, it’s just see you later.”
There are so many sweet babies waiting for you over the rainbow bridge, Eula May. I’ll miss you, but I’m so happy your life didn’t end that day two years ago.
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