Myrtle Needs Lifesaving Treatment

Myrtle is a 6-year-old Beagle mix who was transferred to us on December 30th from a shelter in Kentucky. During her intake examination, it was determined that Myrtle was in the late stages of pregnancy. Unfortunately, her routine heartworm test result was a strong positive, which means that she is infected with a large number of worms in her heart and lungs. Though she is not symptomatic at this time, eventually these worms can cause damage to her heart and airways, which can lead to coughing, trouble breathing, or even death.  

Soon after arriving to the shelter, she went to a foster home to live in a safe and calm environment for the last few weeks of her pregnancy and all throughout nursing. On January 14th, Myrtle had 7 puppies, but sadly only 5 survived.  

Normally, the treatment for heartworms is a series of injections with a potent medication called melarsomine, but because she was pregnant, it would not have been safe to administer, as it could have harmed the puppies. Myrtle's heartworm treatment will be postponed until the puppies are weaned and no longer nursing.  

While mama Myrtle continues to nurse her puppies and await treatment, we are able to administer a monthly heartworm prevention called Heartgard which will start to weaken the worms and prevent further infection. Fortunately, the puppies cannot contract the adult heartworms from their mother. However, the immature worms, or microfilaria, are able to be transferred through the placenta and circulate in the bloodstream of the puppies during pregnancy. Once the puppies are 8 weeks old, they will go on monthly Heartgard which will kill the microfilaria.  

Once Myrtle has finished nursing, she will receive 2 injections of melarsomine 24 hours apart, and will have her activity restricted for 2 months to prevent complications such as clots as the worms start to die off. After 4-6 months she can be heartworm tested, and if negative will hopefully go on to lead a normal, happy life! 

Around the same time we took in Myrtle, another shelter contacted us to see if we would be able to take in another pregnant mama dog. We had space available in our kennel and were happy to help, and Lola came into our care. Lola was rescued by one of our partnering shelters after they found her chained up outside. She had a body temperature of 91 degrees, was emaciated, and very dehydrated.  On January 18th, just 4 days after Myrtle gave birth, Lola had two puppies, but unfortunately, she was not able to take care of them, so Myrtle took them in and is nursing them as if they were her own. Myrtle is now a mother of 7 again and she loves every minute of it! 

“Fostering Mama Myrtle has been a joy; she’s a sweet gentle dog who could easily sway the non-dog lover to the pro-dog team!  We assume much of her life has been spent being a mom, I’m sure to her it was just second nature to take care of any baby in need.  But for me, watching her take in Lola’s puppies, as if they were hers all along, was one of the most beautiful moments I’ve witnessed!” -Keith & Bryana 

In addition to Myrtle, we currently have 2 other dogs, Damien and Paquita, under our care that were diagnosed with heartworm. The complete cost for all treatment and care totals $1,000.  Please donate toward the care of Myrtle, her puppies, Damien and Paquita so they can receive the care they need to live a long and healthy life.  

All donations made to this fundraising page will be designated to our Angel Fund, and 100% of your gift will go toward Myrtle, her puppies, Damien, Paquita and their lifesaving care. Once these animals have fully recovered, any excess funds will remain in our Angel Fund and will be used to help the next animal in need of extensive or emergency medical care.  

We can't give these loving dogs a second chance without you! Please donate today and save lives. Your donation will not just impact the life of one dog, but the lives of 10 dogs in need!  

Please note that the puppies are not yet available for adoption, and will not be until late March. For updates, visit this page, our website, and our social media pages! Lola and Paquita are now available for adoption! Visit our website to learn more about them. 

Please check back as we will provide updates as they become available! 

EXCITING UPDATE!

We have some VERY exciting news to share... Mama Myrtle is HOME! on April 13, our beautiful girl not only found a home with very loving parents, but she also shares a home with her baby, Daisy! We could not be more happy for this family.

Here’s what Myrtle’s new mom, Lori, had to say about their new addition: “You may remember Myrtle, Daisy’s mom. She had spent most of her 6 years of life tied to a post in Kentucky before the Lake Humane Society rescued her at the end of December. She arrived pregnant and was taken in by the most amazing foster parents. She went up for adoption and today, she is ours. ❤️ Daisy is going to live with her mama and we get to love Myrtle for the rest of her life. We are so completely in love with her already.”

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