Heartworm disease is serious, life threatening, and completely preventable. Heartworms cause severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death in dogs, cats, and ferrets. Heartworm is treatable in dogs, but there is no cure for heartworm disease in cats.
HSSC’s Animal Clinic offers in-house blood tests that can confirm if a dog has heartworm disease in a few minutes. The Animal Clinic also sells heartworm preventives at a fraction of the price of other providers. See Heartworm Pricing and Schedule an Appointment.
Heartworm affects far too many canines, especially in Southwest Florida. HSSC is one of the few no-kill shelters that will take on the task of healing a heartworm positive dog. Every adoptable dog receives a blood test. If the dog is positive for heartworms, HSSC will treat the dog. Treatment is costly and time-intensive, and, as a result, many shelters are unable to treat heartworm dogs. HSSC is fortunate to be able to do so. Hundreds of animals have been treated and given a second chance. Read some of their Heartwarming Tails below.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about heartworm disease. For additional information and resources, please click to visit the American Heartworm Society’s website.
Heartworm is only spread through mosquitoes and is very costly to treat. As a result, many shelters are unable to afford the expense. Or, for space reasons, they cannot hold an animal through the minimum three-week treatment protocol. Once the animal is treated and healed, it can be adopted to a loving family and lead a full and active life.
Thanks to generous donors and the support of foundation grants, HSSC has helped rescue, treat, and save hundreds of dogs that were heartworm positive.
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