Cases of heartworms in dogs could be on the rise in the Longview area, and the leader of the city’s animal shelter hopes pet owners will take steps to protect their pups.
The Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center took in 110 dogs with heartworms through May, and the shelter is on track to take in as many or more heartworm-positive dogs as it has in previous years, said Jenna George, the executive director of animal services for the city. The shelter took in 267 heartworm-positive dogs in 2023 and 236 in 2024.
“Heartworm disease isn’t an end-all, be-all for dogs,” George said. “It can be treated, but it’s also easily preventable.”
Heartworm disease occurs when parasitic worms grow and reproduce in a dog’s heart. Mosquitoes transmit the larvae into a dog, where they grow and reproduce. Mosquitoes thrive in hot, humid environments — especially East Texas — increasing the chance for dogs to become infected, said Dr. Loren Kempf, the animal shelter’s veterinarian.
A document shows a positive heartworm test result for a dog at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, as seen Tuesday. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)
As heartworms grow, they affect a dog’s blood flow and result in congestive heart failure, which ultimately leads to death if left untreated.
Dogs with heartworms might not always show symptoms, but some symptoms include difficulty breathing, fast breathing, coughing, weakness, tiredness with exercise, collapsing or fainting, weight loss, red urine and a swollen abdomen, according to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. Veterinarians administer a test to determine if a dog has heartworms.
Dogs with heartworms can recover if they’re treated properly, but some experience lifelong health effects, George said.
While treatment is an option, it can be expensive. The best thing for pet owners to do is to give their dogs regular, year-round heartworm prevention, which is generally inexpensive, George said. One of the most common heartworm prevention medications is a chewable tablet containing medicine that de-worms the dog. Medication can be purchased at stores and at veterinary clinics, and prices vary.
The Animal Protection League serving East Texas offers monthly heartworm prevention medication for $8 per month for small dogs and $10 per month for large dogs. Pet owners seeking medication from the organization will need to pay $20 for a yearly heartworm test for their dog before purchasing medication. The organization is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1604 Texas 31.
Dogs that have or have had heartworms are less likely to be adopted because people might not feel comfortable caring for them, George said. Dogs that are heartworm-positive generally stay in the shelter longer, too.
Dr. Loren Kempf, veterinarian at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, talks about an increase in heartworm cases during an interview Tuesday at the shelter. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)
Shelter staffers give adoptive pet owners a three-month supply of heartworm prevention medication to help their new furry friends when they’re adopted. Just because a dog had or has heartworms doesn’t mean it won’t be a wonderful pet.
“We’re giving people the opportunity to take home these dogs that they thought was sort of impossible in the beginning,” Kempf said.
The more pet owners who keep their dogs healthy, the healthier other dogs will be, too: “If we have a lot of heartworm-positive dogs in our community, and we have a lot of dogs that are not on prevention, it can make it a little bit easier for that mosquito to draw its blood meal, fly around somewhere else, land on someone else’s dog that is outside and then potentially spread those heart worms that way,” George said.
Bottles containing heartworm treatment doxycycline hyclate are pictured Tuesday at the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)
For dogs that do have heartworms and need treatment, some organizations provide lower-cost care. The Texas Foundation for Animal Care in Fort Worth provides heartworm treatment ranging from $350 for small dogs to $650 for large dogs — significantly less than what some veterinary clinics charge. Emancipet, which has locations in Texas, provides treatment ranging between $225 and $495.
“We encourage everyone to get their animals on preventative, do heartworm tests,” George said. “It is something very, very simple that can help your animal’s health and save you a lot of money in the long run. And it is part of being a responsible pet owner.”
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