Heartworm Truths Every Pet Owner Needs to Hear with Dr. Zoo

Think skipping heartworm prevention just this once is no big deal? It only takes one mosquito bite to change your pet’s life forever.

Heartworm disease is slow, painful, and completely preventable—yet pets still die from it every year. In this episode, Dr. Zoo shares two cases that prove why you can’t take the risk: a two-year-old German Shepherd in kidney failure after his owners stopped prevention, and a rescue terrier whose heart was so overrun with worms that euthanasia was the only option.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
• Why heartworms don’t just damage the heart—they attack lungs, liver, and kidneys too
• The biggest myths about prevention (and the one mistake that puts pets at risk in every season)
• How $5–$7 a month can save you thousands in treatment and spare your pet from weeks of painful recovery

If you’ve ever thought, “My pet stays indoors,” “It’s winter,” or “We don’t have mosquitoes,” this episode will change the way you think about prevention—for good.

🎧 Listen now and learn the truth that could save your pet’s life.

Shoutouts:
 American Heartworm Society
Family Animal Hospital of Friendswood

PS: You might hear us call the show Muddy Paws and Hairballs. That was our old name. Now we’re focused on helping you—the pet parent—not just your pets. You’re in the right place.

Support the show

Love the show? Please share it with a pet parent living with chaos, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review so more people can get the pet parent advice they need.

Get our free Vet Bill Survival Kit

Please support the show!

Follow:🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify

Pet parenting is tough, but The Pet Parent Hotline helps solve real pet parenting struggles with practical pet advice. Each week, we provide pet care advice and pet saving hacks for overwhelmed pet parents trying to save money at the pet store and on vet bills, make puppy training easy, fix cat behavior problems like litter box issues and scratching, and keep multi-pet households in balance. We share pet advice on pet budgeting, cat care, dog training tips, dog behavior, stress-free vet visits, and home cleaning with pets. Follow for the pet parent support you need to stop chasing your tail and start enjoying life with pets.

Contact: Amy@petparenthotline.com ©Ⓟ 2025 Amy Castro