[Yorkiemom1]

In my opinion, I can not imagine allowing a dog to go without heartworm medication. Heartworms are preventable, so to neglect giving prevention is nothing short of conscious neglect. I used to bring strays I found wandering the streets, home, and over the years, I have had to put 4 dogs down because they were obviously dumped because they were infested with heartworms and the owners did not want to pay to have them treated. The last two almost killed me.....one was the most beautiful, loyal. devoted, well trained german shepherd you could possibly imagine.....he lived with me for almost a year before he became so symptomatic he had to be put down. He could not have been treated because he was so infested with heartworms, to treat him would have killed him....his system would not have been able to process all the mass of dead heartworms that would have been released into his system....so this wonderful gentleman had to be put down when his quality of life becamse unbearable. I cried and still cry over loosing this wonderful dog, Smitty...... This could have been soooooooo easily prevented, and to allow this dog to end his life the way it was ended, is abusive. If you live in the Great State of Texas, and you are NOT treating your pup with heartworm preventative, you are sentencing your pet to an UNNECESSARY, agonizing death, and it will only take one, possibly two seasons to happen.....not a question of "if" it will happen, but "how long" it will take. Heartworm infestation is as common in Texas as mild winters! If you are thinking this is an area where you can save money and not provide this necessary protection for your pet, do your pet a favor and do not own a pet! Save money on bedding, toys, clothes, even food, but do NOT neglect this aspect of responsibile ownership for your best friend.