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FEBRUARY // MARCH 2019 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13
Fluffy Critters

PET TIPS•BREEDS•CARE•GROOMING

Special Needs Pets: Can I Adopt a

Heartworm-Positive Dog?

While heartworm disease is a serious medical condition, compassionate pet owners who are willing to invest in the necessary care and resources in treatment can
enable heartworm-positive pets to live full and happy lives. © HEDGEHOG94, STOCK.ADOBE.COM.

(STATEPOINT) Every year, an estimated WHAT TO KNOW WHEN ADOPTING to invest the necessary care and resources
3.3 million dogs enter U.S. animal shelters, A HEARTWORM-POSITIVE DOG in treatment can enable heartworm-positive
with roughly half that number subsequently < Dogs with heartworm disease can be dogs to live full and happy lives. ISI
adopted by pet owners. These include shelter successfully treated and go on to live normal
dogs with special medical needs that can make lives. However, treatment must be initiated
them harder to place. Dogs with heartworm as soon as possible to minimize permanent
infection are a common example. damage to the dog’s heart and arteries.
< A dog with heartworm disease cannot directly
WHAT IS HEARTWORM DISEASE infect another pet. Nevertheless, an infected,
AND HOW DO DOGS GET IT? untreated dog can become a source of infection Large & Small Animal Service • 24 Hour Emergency on Call Care
Heartworm is a serious disease spread by to other pets if it is bitten by a mosquito, so David A. Rustebakke, DVM Christina Bustamante, DVM
infected mosquitoes, estimated to affect more prompt treatment is needed. Geoff McGee, DVM Rachel Micek, DVM
Ph 509-758-0955
than one million dogs, cats, and ferrets in < Heartworm treatment requires months of 705 15th Street Fax 509-758-0956
the U.S. The incidence of heartworm disease therapy and multiple medications administered Clarkston, WA 99403 [email protected]
www.rvsvet.com
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in shelter dogs is thought to be higher than under a veterinarian’s care. Heartworm
in other dogs, because stray and surrendered treatment can also be costly. Some shelters
pets are less likely to have received prior are able to cover all or some of these costs
veterinary care or to have been on routine prior to adoption, while others can’t afford to Vogts
heartworm prevention. do so. Dogs undergoing treatment also need
Meanwhile, natural disasters like hurri- to be kept on cage rest to minimize treatment Heating
canes—which occur in areas of the country complications. Serving the
where heartworm rates are already high — can < Dogs can become re-infected if they’re & Air Pocatello Area
lead to increased numbers of heartworm-pos- not protected. The AHS recommends year- since 1892
208-233-2504
itive pets needing adoption when flooding and round heartworm prevention to all pets, as 653 W Center St • Pocatello
pet displacement drive up infection numbers. well as annual testing. Fortunately, heart-
Not every aspiring pet owner is equipped worm prevention is
to provide the extra care a special-needs pet affordable, effective,
requires; however, with proper treatment, and safe.
heartworm-positive pets can be excellent For more informa-
candidates for adoption. tion on understanding
The American Heartworm Society (AHS) heartworm disease
advises prospective adopters to obtain in dogs, visit heart-
important information from veterinarians and wormsociety.org.
shelter personnel when considering this step. While heartworm
Key points are understanding how heartworm disease is a serious
infection is spread, how treatment works, and medical condition,
what kind of care owners will be required to compassionate own-
give dogs undergoing treatment. ers who are willing