Winston - A Dog in Need

 

  

Winston was a 2 year old, intact doberboy who was dumped at a shelter because after having Winston for 2 years, his owner said he had gotten "too big". Ironically, he only weighed in at 62 lbs., which is extremely underweight for a dog his size and age.  In addition to the outward problems he displayed upon his arrival, the poor guy was diagnosed positive for heartworm infestation.  Of course, matters were worse.  Winston was taken to the shelter during a parvo quarentine.  When DAR&E agreed to bring him in, we had to board him at an animal hospital in quarentine until it was determined he was not exposed and then treated for his heartworms.  Heartworms are transmitted by a mosquito bite to the host where the larvae develop into adult worms that migrate to the heart and sometimes the lungs. It's so sad that any dog has to suffer from this potentially deadly disease since heartworms are 100% preventable. The treatment for heartworms is devastating to a dog because an arsenic based drug is used to destory the adult worms. The treatment and recovery time is slow and expensive. It is imperative that Winston is kept very calm and confined while he is recuperating to lessen the chance for life-threatening blood clots to develop. 

 

Once Winston was stable enough, he was neutered and went to a foster home to recover from his heartworm treatment.  All things considered, Winston's future looks pretty bright. When his health issues are taken care of, DAR&E will help him to find his "furever" home.

 

UPDATE:  November 2010:  Winston has been neutered, medically cleared of heartworms and is now available for adoption!

 

UPDATE: January 2011:  Winston found his furever home!

 

Winston's medical bills were in excess of $1500. If you would like to learn more information about heartworm diagnosis and treatment, you can go to: http://www.heartwormsociety.org/.