Gaia’s Heartworm Treatment

Meet Gaia and prepare to get your PSA about heartworm disease! Gaia is my beautiful foster dog who had lived most of her life tied to a tree. Gaia has a severe case of heartworm disease and will require a more intensive treatment. The treatment is expensive, so I’m raising funds because this isn’t typically the method the rescue will fully fund.

There are 2 types of heartworm treatments: the “slow-kill,” which is basically just when the dog is put on prevention and waiting for the adult worms to die on their own. This could take a very long time, especially if the case is severe, in which the adult worms are still wreaking havoc on the respiratory system. So technically, this method doesn’t kill anything at all.

The “fast-kill” method is a series of 3 injections over a month or so that kills the heartworms completely. This is what Gaia will require because she’s still experiencing symptoms waiting for the worms to die. The fast-kill method can be risky and cause life-threatening side effects.

Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and is 100% preventable. Prevention is only around $200 per year! It’s totally worth it to prevent what Gaia is going through and the costs that go with it. Please help me give Gaia the quality of life she deserves!