Treat Pit Bulls Suffering From Heartworm Disease

When our rescue moved to our new location two and a half years to Louisiana we had no idea one of our BIGGEST expenses would be heartworm treatment. Where we are originally from in Southern California, heartworm was not a big problem yet, although we hear it is becoming a problem there as well. We are spending more money than ever on heartworm medication and treatment, but there aren't a lot of options because if we don't, the dogs will die a lengthy and painful death.

People don't realize how expensive it is to have a dog with heartworm. It can cost over a thousand dollars to treat a heartworm positive dog. Almost all the dogs we rescue have heartworm disease and need treatment.

In one of the rare occasions when we have a dog that is heartworm negative (the vet has to do a test on each dog) we are able to put the dog on a very simple heartworm preventative regimen.

The treatment protocol is time consuming and very expensive. Each dog has to remain calm during the process of the treatment which takes several months.

It's for that reason that we are keeping a separate kennel building JUST for the dogs (nearly all we rescue have this problem) who have heartworm disease. These are dogs who already have been bit by a mosquito that carries heartworm. That's how the dogs get the disease. It's not a communicable disease amongst humans and/or dogs, but rather a mosquito that carries the virus bites a dog.

Given the humidity and the vast amounts of water and swamps in Louisiana, our new favorite state is a huge breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Please help us continue to help the many worthy dogs in our new state.