Beau Needs Life-Saving Heartworm Treatment

Hi Friends,

Meet Beau. He's a sweet, curious, goofy, adorable, cuddly 2.5 yr old Wheaten Terrier. Beau spent his early life wandering the streets of Texas bouncing from shelter to shelter until a winter snowstorm led to his transfer to a rescue in Chicago.

I adopted Beau in April after falling in love with his playful, silly personality. Sadly, Beau is heartworm-positive which means his heart is clogged with parasitic worms. Making it much harder for his heart to pump blood to the rest of his body. In fact, 80% of shelter dogs from the southern US are heartworm-positive. Unfortunately, most heartworm-positive dogs never find their forever home as treatment is complex & expensive.

The rescue shelter where I adopted Beau offered to pay for his treatment as it can often be a deterrent for adopters. However, the shelter recently lost grant funding and is no longer able to fund Beau's life-saving care. We are already TWO months into his treatment course and he is due for his first melarsomine injection in a couple of days. It is crucial that Beau receive his injections on time for the greatest chance of recovery.

A few things about Beau... he loves being outside & isn't shy about making friends. He's especially fond of the bunnies living across the street from us. He spends hours a day watching them hop around thru our window. Beau is also known for being talkative. He greets me every day with a cheerful howl & a happy tail. His prized possession is a pink pig named Poppy that he carries with him everywhere he goes. Beau isn't afraid to roll around in the dirt, he enjoys puzzles and likes to hold paws while snuggling on the couch.

Heartworm treatment is critical & life-saving for dogs like Beau as he is at HIGH-risk for heart failure. Although treatment is NECESSARY it's also unpleasant, lengthy, and complicated. Beau's case is considered severe so he will need a series of deep muscle injections in his back to help rid his heart of these worms. The treatment course is time-sensitive continuing anywhere from 6-12 months.

On injections days, Beau will remain hospitalized under Veterinary care while they closely monitor his vitals for signs of complication. The injection itself is painful so the vet uses laser therapy to help with discomfort. Beau will also need antibiotics, steroids, and chest X-rays throughout his treatment.

Beau will be on activity restriction for at least 3 months while his body rids itself of the parasites. If Beau's heart rate elevates during this time the decaying worms may cause a life-threatening blockage. Therefore, he will need sedatives daily to help him heal and reduce his FOMO.

After the first series of injections (x3) Beau's blood work will be drawn again to see if a 2nd round of injections is needed. This course continues until Beau can rid the parasitic worms from his heart & bloodstream.

Since adopting Beau in April he's brought many adventures, laughter, & excitement to my life. He is sweet, loyal, and an all-around good boy. Please consider donating to help cover the costs of his LIFE-SAVING heartworm treatment.

We appreciate all your support & well wishes.

xoxo,

Ashley & Beau