Spring brings other hazards for unsuspecting pets, too. Normally well-behaved companion animals will suddenly become escape artists as instinct triumphs over training. Females, who are content to remain in the house and close to their people any other time, will dash past feet in an attempt to race out whenever a door is opened. Yet another unseen hazard for pets in the warmer months is the threat of heartworm. If he checks clear, your vet will prescribe monthly pills to prevent infection.
Some people consider the test and preventative too costly to undergo every year.
Yes, heartworm can be treated and defeated, if caught early enough. A heartworm-positive dog must undergo a series of injections of a deadly poison which, when properly administered by a vet, will kill the worm and just make the dog very, very sick. He must also be kept quiet for the two-month duration of treatment. Otherwise, when the worm dies and breaks up to eventually dissolve in his bloodstream, pieces may lodge in his brain and cause strokes, brain damage, or death. Bailey apparently came through treatment with flying colors, but just when everyone was breathing freely again and he seemed to be in perfect health, he began having severe seizures in his sleep, as many as four an hour.