"What heartworm is, and a lot of people don't know, it's actually a worm that looks very similar to a spaghetti noodle. And they grow in the dog's heart and they end up constricting the dog's heart," said Detroit Dog Rescue's Kristina Rinaldi about heartworm disease.
The non-profit rescue operates the only no-kill shelter in the city of Detroit. The majority of dogs they rescue from the street or from Detroit Animal Care & Control have tested positive for heartworm - a deadly parasite that is transmitted to dogs by mosquito bites.
Dr. Michael Hood, a veterinarian at The Greenfield Animal Hospital, recommends an annual heartworm test followed by year-round heartworm prevention for dogs.
Prevention is relatively inexpensive compared to the high cost of treating a dog already infected.
Heartworm prevention is just as important as vaccinating your dog against other diseases and viruses.
On Friday, Detroit Dog Rescue will team up with VIP Pet Care to offer free vaccinations to Detroit dog owners from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Pet Supplies Plus located at 18956 Livernois in Detroit.
The free vaccinations will include rabies, Bordetella, LEPTO, and DHLPP.
Detroit Dog Rescue will also be covering the costs of heartworm tests for the first 50 Detroiters.
Click here to find out more about Detroit Dog Rescue.
