NOLA Rescue group question. There was a story about a

[I_Make_Mistakes]

local group who rescued animals, most if not all, dogs. They said that most of the dogs had heart worm and would require approx. $1000.00 worth of treatment. They were accepting donations and I didn't pay attention enough, if the new owners where going to be required to pay this.

My question is (not a dog owner) is heart worm that common? Why would the majority of these dogs have it? It just sounded odd to me.

[yewberry]

1. It is very common in some areas.

Heartworm is most common along the Atlantic seaboard and in the Mississippi Valley. A (2001?) study claimed that 100% of untreated penned dogs in Louisiana tested positive for heartworm (likely because penned or chained animals can't get away from the mosquitos that carry the parasite.)

You could check at www.heartwormsociety.org

[I_Make_Mistakes]

2. Thanks, my friends have dogs and it never came up as an issue.

I thought maybe, someone was trying to scam people. We have already had one arrest in the area. Thank you, again.

[yewberry]

3. Sure, glad to help.

I live in an area with very low incidence now (Seattle,) but grew up in New England, where it's more of a problem.

It's weird--it's a huge problem where it exists, but almost no one has even heard of it here.