Heartworms are parasitic roundworms that infect mostly dogs*, and are passed to the dog by an infected mosquito. The heartworm infests the heart and eventually causes heart failure. Treatment can be long, difficult, and dangerous, but without treatment, heartworm will be fatal. Most dogs show no symptoms for several months after infection, but during this time, the worms are reproducing and growing in the lungs and heart. Sometimes a mild cough and lack of energy are the only signs until late in the illness.

The above pictures are an actual heart from one of the dogs we rescued whose heartworms were so severe, we could not save him. Click for a larger view.

Heartworm is found on every continent, except Antarctica!
It is a very serious problem in the US along the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi River, and anywhere else with big mosquito problems.

ABSOLUTELY EVERY DOG OWNER MUST CONSISTENLY HAVE THEIR DOG ON HEARTWORM PREVENTION!

I cannot stress this enough. Skipping months is NOT an option! If you have mosquitoes, and the entire continental United States does, your dog is AT RISK for heartworm. Without treatment, it faces increasing pain and certain death. Based on the adult dogs that Whiskerville rescues, who have been fending for themselves outside for even a short period of time, over 80% of them test positive for heartworm. Yes, I said EIGHTY percent.

In addition, it is necessary to have a heartworm test prior to using a preventive, if your dog has not been on prevention consistently since puppyhood, or if you have missed doses. Severe and even fatal reactions may occur if preventives are given to dogs with heartworm disease, or may make diagnosis inaccurate if a later test is given.

According to Dr. Tom Nelson, president of the American Heartworm Society, "Listen, if you live in certain places in the United States and if you don't protect your pet, heartworm disease is pretty much guaranteed to happen." The Texas Gulf Coast is one of those places.

Having an "indoor dog," is not enough protection. Your dog goes out to potty, and you open doors to come and go from the house. Your dog will without a doubt be exposed to mosquitoes on a regular basis. You are risking your dog's life every moment that he/she is not on heartworm preventative.

Some people attempt the use of alternative preventions other than the standards such as Heartguard or Iverhart. These alternatives were not manufactured for dogs and do not come in standard doses for small animals. They are not as effective as medications specifically for dogs, and relying on them is leaving your dog at a significant risk for a fatal disease.

You must sign a relinquishment form and either allow us to test your dog or be able to show a CURRENT negative test for heartworms in order to obtain prevention.

BLUE (TO 25#)-$12.00- 6 mo package (single dose-$4.00)
GREEN (26-50#)-$18.00- 6 mo package (single dose-$5.00)
BROWN (51-100#)-$23.00- 6 mo package (single dose-$6.00)

*Other animals including cats and ferrets can contract heartworm, though the risk is much lower. Dogs are the preferred "host," so for less ideal hosts, rates of infestation are lower, and studies have varied from 0% to 25%. Because cats should be indoor pets, and the chances of heartworm infecting them is significantly lower, you should discuss this issue with your vet to decide about whether your cat needs preventative as well.