Good dog/pet care.

My sister has a dog that she adopted over 10 years ago and he had to be treated for it. I adopted 2 dogs 4 years ago, from the same owner, and they both had it. Granted, at my job we don't diagnose that much of it anymore, but we still get so many people who aren't keeping their dogs on prevention. It just surprises me is all. And sure, the treatment today is much safer than it was when my sister's dog was diagnosed (he had a very heavy load and the vet was afraid to treat him the usual way, so instead they did the "gradual, die-off" treatment by just putting him on Heartgard; 10 years later he's healthy but now has a heart condition that he has to take medication for), but dogs still get very sick from it. One of mine was really sick the first five days after her treatment, and I had to have this done at a time when I happened to be unemployed, too. $650 later they are happy and healthy, and while that's not a fortune per se, I also know families today who would put a dog down if they needed to dig up money like that for a sickness. I guess I really shouldn't be that surprised, but I still am. Maybe because I am working for a vet, a place where people come to supposedly keep their pets healthy, and some still don't do it. Thanks for your response. :) I was kinda sad when nobody responded at all. Makes me wonder if most people who read it actually know what heartworm is, too....