Timber, a stray from Peguis First Nation, arrived in our care on July 24, 2015. Almostly completely shut down when he arrived, Timber needed to be carried part of the way down the hallways to go outside for playtime. He slowly learned that touching, and especially brushing, is a good thing. With a lot of nurturing and love from both staff and volunteers, we were excited to see his rehabilitation going so well. We fell in love with his good looks and gentle personality instantly.
Unfortunately when Timber's heartworm test came back positive, we had to accept that his rehabiliation would be more than just social and would require months of medical treatment as well. He went in for his assesment on August 28 and started his treatment shortly after.
Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread through bites from mosquitos carrying the heartworm larvae. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, the heartworm larvae are transmitted to the dog's bloodstream. These larvae mature into adults that can be up to 12 inches long and take up residence inside the dog's heart.
Heartworm treatment is a very lengthy process that can take several months to eliminate all of the worms from the dogs body. During the treatment period, Timber also has to be kept to a very strict low activity routine so to not stress his heart.
While it is not only a lengthy treatment it is also a costly treatment. If you would like to donate to the handsome boy's cause please contact us directly at the ARC at 204-888-2266.
Find out more about Heartworm prevention and treatment from the American Heartworm Society.