One of the most important and basic healthcare needs of a dog is providing them with adequate protection against heartworms. Heartworms are deadly parasites that are spread through bites from mosquitos carrying the parasite. Heartworms can be transmitted to both dogs and cats, and are present in all 50 states.

Failure to provide your dog with adequate heartworm prevention leaves them vulnerable to acquiring these parasites. Prevention is the best option, as detecting and treating heartworms is both costly and difficult. Left unabated, heartworms can cause significant permanent damage to important organs such as the lungs, and heart. Heartworms can also be fatal.

Not only is failing to provide heartworm prevention devastating to the dog, it also shows a profound lack of owner responsibility. Heartworm prevention is equally as important as taking your dog in for annual vet exams, getting them vaccinated, and should be considered one of the most basic healthcare needs of your dog. 

This is why GTS requires that all applicants have a demonstrable history of providing current and previous pets with heartworm preventative. Those who lack that history will be denied and no exceptions will be granted. There is no valid reason or excuse for not administering heartworm preventative to your dog.

Common excuses may include:

  • I didn’t know about heartworms, or the importance of giving preventatives

  • My vet told me I didn’t need to give preventatives

  • Preventatives are too expensive

Not knowing about heartworms or administering preventative signals that either you aren’t seeing a vet or you did not do adequate research before adopting a dog. The danger of heartworms is well documented, and widely known. A trusted veterinarian will always recommend prevention and would not advise against it.

Heartworm preventative medications often only cost roughly $10 a pill, and are readily available either through your vet, pet supply stores, or through sites like Chewy.com or entirelypets.com. Prevention is far more affordable, as treatment can cost thousands of dollars. Treatment itself is also very hard on the dog and can be painful.