This Florida Shelter Dog is PERFECT in Every Way… Except for ONE Thing That Scares Everyone Away
Polly is a 2-year-old Carolina Dog mix who has spent the last handful of months in the care of the Humane Society of Broward County in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. A sweet, goofy girl with a glowing personality, Polly has been overlooked by adopters for one simple reason: she’s heartworm-positive. Heartworm is a treatable disease, and with heartworm medicine for dogs followed by preventative care, the vast majority of heartworm-infected dogs make a full recovery.
After months stuck in the shelter with only a short reprieve from her kennel once a day, Polly finally got a chance to enjoy a day outside the shelter’s walls. A wonderful volunteer took Polly out for a day of fun wearing a vest that said “Adopt Me” to let anyone they met know she is looking for a home.
Polly got to enjoy a pup cup full of whipped cream, pets and affection from new friends, and even a bath at a local dog spa. Polly also met other dogs, which she loved, but unlike them, she wasn’t going home at the end of her day. Finishing things off with some treats and rest in the car, Polly rode back to the shelter, and she’s still there, waiting for a home.
Could Polly Be The Perfect Dog For You?
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one shedding a tear for this perfect girl—how could anyone overlook sweet Polly just because she is a dog positive for heartworm?
Polly is still young at just 2 years old and weighs a very reasonable 38 pounds. Staff at the Humane Society of Broward County describe Polly as a funny, sweet, and loving dog—she just wants a human to love on who will love her back. Polly is a beautiful dog with light brown fur and soulful eyes; her one flaw (if you can even call it a flaw) is that she is heartworm-positive.
@humanebroward Polly hasn’t found a family 🙏🥺 So she was treated to a special day out by one of our volunteer dog walkers Our dog walker said Polly is calm and timid, but a super sweet girl. She's unsure of the world outside of the shelter but she was so brave and tried new things! She loved her pup cup and having some spa time! Polly absolutely adores people and other dogs! She was so excited to make new friends. Polly is perfect and would make an amazing companion for someone or be a wonderful addition to any family! Please share Polly so she can be home for the holidays! Sadly, 2-year-old Polly is one of our most overlooked dogs 😔 Polly is so sweet, but because she is Heartworm positive, most adopters won’t even ask to see her 💔 Heartworm is a treatable disease and Polly is being treated by our clinic ❤️🩹 It usually only takes a few months for a dog to be cleared of heartworm and the shelter will provide the treatments for free ❤️ Polly is a sweet and loving girl. Can you give this her a chance at a good life? 🙏 If you cannot adopt, please share Polly’s post 🙏 To meet Polly, please fill out an application at www.humanebroward.com (link is in bio) and then come on in. The shelter located at 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL., the adoption department opens daily at 11 a.m. If you have questions call 954-989-3977 ext. 6 ❤️ #rescuedog #shelterdog #adoptme #adoptdontshop #doglover #fortlauderdale #florida #dogvideos #video #bulldogs #doglife #staffy #dogs #dogoftheday #dogsoftiktok #dogshelter #animalshelter #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #staffylove #dog #bulldog #bullybreed #bullylove #pittiesoftiktok #pitbull #pittie #dogtok #bulldogsoftiktok #carolinadog ♬ original sound – Humane Society Broward County
Luckily, Polly is being treated and recovering well from her heartworms. The Humane Society of Broward County will cover Polly’s heartworm medicine for free, and she will only need to take the heartworm medication for dogs for a few months.
If you live in or near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and have fallen in love with this sweet dog, you can learn more or apply to adopt Polly through the Humane Society of Broward County.
Heartworm in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Heartworm disease in dogs is caused by a parasitic worm that lives inside the dog’s heart, blood vessels, and other organs. Dogs acquire heartworm disease through mosquito bites. Mosquitos can also be infected by heartworms, and when an infected mosquito bites a dog, they can transmit infective heartworm larvae.
“The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies,” says the American Heartworm Society. “Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone.”
Early detection is key to reducing your dog’s lasting damage if your dog is heartworm positive, but even dogs with more advanced heartworm disease respond well to dog heartworm medicine. If left untreated, heartworm can cause various life-threatening diseases in dogs including heart failure.
Common Symptoms of Heartworm-Positive Dogs
Dogs may be infected with heartworms for six months or more before they begin showing signs of heartworm disease. Annual heartworm testing is the most reliable way to catch heartworm, and if your dog is heartworm positive, you will ideally catch it before they begin to show symptoms.
Some common signs that a dog is infected with heartworm disease include:
- Becoming winded easily or struggling to catch breath
- Persistent honking cough
- Lethargy
- Disinterest in exercise or play
- Loss of appetite or unusual weight loss
- Protruding or bulging chest
Testing for Heartworms in Dogs
Dogs in the United States should receive annual testing for heartworm, but if you suspect your dog has been infected, don’t wait until their next annual exam.
To test for heartworm, vets may use one or a combination of microfilaria tests and/or heartworm antigen tests. Both are blood tests and must be performed at a veterinary office. Microfilaria tests look for the presence of heartworms in their early stages, while antigen tests assess for proteins created by adult-stage heartworms.
At-home heartworm tests can be a good resource for some people, but if your dogs test positive for heartworm at home, you will need to immediately follow up with a veterinarian. False positive heartworm tests are more common with at-home test kits, but any positive heartworm tests require further investigation. With a veterinary heartworm test, false positives are extremely rare.
Treatment for Heartworms in Dogs
If your dog has a heartworm test positive, your veterinarian will recommend a combination of pharmaceutical and lifestyle treatment options. Common medications used to treat heartworms in dogs include antibiotics, an injectable drug called melarsomine, or other deworming treatments. Heartworm medicines are typically prescribed for 4–6 months, and the vast majority of dogs recover well.
Dogs being treated for heartworm should also avoid vigorous exercise and may need additional rest.
How To Prevent Heartworm Disease in Dogs
With annual heartworm testing and heartworm prevention medications, most dogs can entirely avoid heartworm. Vets may prescribe oral heartworm pills for dogs or injectable preventative heartworm medicine. Injectable heartworm prevention is a great choice if you don’t want to manage monthly heartworm-preventative treatments for dogs. While some vets may recommend flea, tick, and heartworm pills, dogs that live in colder climates may only be given heartworm preventative.
You can purchase heartworm prevention for dogs without vet prescription, but you should always ask for your veterinarian’s recommendation and approval before starting your dog on medication.
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