Heartworm infection is a horrid disease.  Mosquito bites a dog, injects a tiny little heartworm.  This little microfilaria flows through the bloodstream and finally lodges in the pulmonary artery, just outside the actual heart.

The heartworm baby then grows and grows and grows, sometimes up to two feet long.  All the while, clogging the entrance into the heart more and more.  As the worms grow and clog the artery, blood flow slows down, the heart is forced to exert much more effort to beat and the heart begins to enlarge and lose some of it’s flexibility.  If not treated, a dog will eventually die of respiratory distress from these nasty creatures.

We have six little dogs that need heartworm treatment….

Inez Harris.  Well, you guessed it!  She’s not a shih tzu.  She’s a gorgeous little long-haired chihuahua.  We were at the shelter picking up another dog that had been surrendered with her.  The shelter folks said that no one wanted Inez because she was black and had heartworms.  So she was scheduled to die.  Well, we just scooped her up and stuck her in the car.  Yep.  And we’re glad we did.  She’s a doll baby.

Here is her link:  www.youcaring.com/InezHarris

UPDATE:  Inez is “ALL FUNDS RAISED.”

Rowan Starling.  Absolutely stunning lhasa boy.  And a total sweetheart!  He was found as a stray and turned in to a south Texas shelter.  Simple heartworms precludes a dog from making it on the adoption list.  So his only way out was with us.  He needs a LOT more in his little piggy bank.

Here is his fundraiser:  www.youcaring.com/RowanStarling.  Still needs a LOT.

Dryfus Harris – wow this horrible hot mess came to us with a HUGE HUGE abscess on the right side of his neck – it was the size of a softball!!  We immediately rushed him to our vet who, thankfully, was able to save him from sepsis but it was touch and go for a while.  Now, he’s up for heartworm treatment.

Here is his fundraiser:  www.youcaring.com/DryfusHarris

UPDATE!!  ALL FUNDS RAISED for Dryfus!!

Denae Harlingen!  Yet another one who was a HORRIBLE MESS.  Tiny, tiny, sweet little Denae took four months just to get healthy enough to handle heartworm treatment.  Her skin was badly infected and her eyes as dry as a bone.  Now, it’s time.  Heartworm treatment here she comes.

Her fundraiser is here: www.youcaring.com/DenaeHarlingen

UPDATE:  ALL FUNDS RAISED!!  Denae sends xoxoxoxo

Tonka Harris – guess what?  Not a matted mess!!  Nope, but a story just as sad.  Tonka was left at a grooming shop and his owner refused to pick him back up.  He’s 12.  Can  you believe this?  Just a tubby little cutie pie.  Now he needs heartworm treatment.

His fundraiser is here:  www.youcaring.com/TonkaHarris

UPDATE:  ALL FUNDS RAISED FOR TONKA!!!

Emerson Harris – what a stunning lhasa boy.  Why no other rescue wanted him is beyond me.  He’s sweet and just a handsome boy!  Here is his fundraiser so we can get those heartworms out of his heart!

His fundraiser is here!  He’s about half way there!  www.youcaring.com/EmersonHarris

Thanks to all of you!