Understanding Heartworms: What Every Pet Owner Should Know

Heartworms are one of the most common, and most misunderstood, health concerns faced by dogs today. As a foster-based rescue working with high-intake shelters across the Carolinas, we see heartworm-positive dogs far more often than we should. The good news? With the right care and prevention, heartworms are completely manageable, and dogs can go on to live long, happy, healthy lives.

At Sloan and Finn Animal Rescue, we believe education saves lives. Here’s what every pet owner (and future adopter!) should know.

How Heartworms Are Transmitted

Heartworms are spread exclusively through the bite of an infected mosquito. When a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae bites a dog, those larvae enter the bloodstream. Over several months, they mature into adult heartworms that settle in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels.

There’s no other way for a dog to contract heartworms. Not from playing with other dogs. Not from sharing water bowls. Not from being around cats or humans. Mosquitoes are the only source. This means both indoor and outdoor dogs are at risk, because mosquitoes can find their way anywhere.

Heartworms Are Not Contagious

A common worry we hear is, “Can my dog catch heartworms from being around a heartworm-positive dog?”

The answer: absolutely not.

Heartworms cannot be transmitted through:

• Saliva

• Play or roughhousing

• Shared toys, beds, or water bowls

• Contact with humans or cats

Your pets, and your family, are completely safe around a dog undergoing heartworm treatment.

Why Prevention Matters

Heartworm prevention is one of the easiest and most important parts of responsible pet care. Monthly preventatives kill any larvae a dog may have been exposed to before they have a chance to mature.

Prevention is:

• Safe

• Affordable

• Easy to give

• Far less expensive than treatment

In the Carolinas, where mosquitoes thrive almost year-round, consistent monthly prevention truly is lifesaving.

Adoptable Figgy

Life After Heartworms: Treatment and Recovery

Many dogs come to us heartworm-positive through no fault of their own. They may have lived outdoors, lacked veterinary care, or simply never received monthly preventatives. When they arrive at Sloan and Finn Animal Rescue, they receive a full medical workup, and if heartworms are detected, they begin treatment right away.

Heartworm treatment does require rest, monitoring, and veterinary oversight, but here’s the

part many people don’t realize:

With proper treatment, dogs make a full recovery.

Heartworms do not shorten a dog’s lifespan once treatment is complete. They do not prevent dogs from living active, joyful, healthy lives.

Many of our adoptable dogs, like Figgy, are heartworm-positive upon arrival, and every single one of them deserves the same chance as any other dog. Their condition should not scare potential adopters away.

How You Can Help Dogs With Heartworms

1. Adopt without fear

A heartworm-positive dog isn’t “sickly.” They simply need care. And in many cases, rescues (including ours!) fully cover their treatment.

2. Keep your pets on prevention

This is the easiest way to ensure your dog never faces heartworm disease.

3. Spread awareness

Most people who are afraid of heartworms have simply never been taught the facts. Share this blog, talk to friends, and help us educate our community.

4. Support rescues treating heartworm-positive dogs

Treatment is expensive, and rescues rely heavily on donations to continue saving these dogs. Every contribution makes a direct impact.

At Sloan and Finn Animal Rescue, We Believe Every Dog Deserves a Chance

Heartworms are highly preventable, highly treatable, and rarely lifelong. Dogs who test positive should never be overlooked, ignored, or left behind in shelters.

They deserve kindness.They deserve families.They deserve love, and a forever home.

If you have questions about heartworms, want to meet one of our heartworm-positive pups, or are considering adopting, we’re always here to help.

Together, we can save lives, one heartbeat at a time.