Clinic Offering Discounted Heartworm Tests

Officials at Pet's Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic know the importance of having a healthy heart.

That's why all next month they are offering half priced heartworm tests because they say an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure..

Keeping pets happy and healthy is a top priority for these owners but here in Texas, heartworms could be killing their loyal friends and they wouldn't even know it.

Heartworms are parasites that lives in the hearts and pulmonary arteries of infected animals.

It's spread through mosquitoes and animal experts in warm winter climates, the parasites thrive.

"Texas is in the top 10 as far as states are concerned of having the biggest problem. Twenty-six to 50 cases are reported every year at every clinic statewide," says Leslie Harrelson, founder of PETS Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic.

Although heartworms can be fatal they can also be prevented.

"It's a simple blood test. It's one drop of blood. It takes 10 minutes. You're in and out the door," explains Harrelson.

During this clinic, more than a dozen heartsworm tests were performed and officials say two dogs that looked perfectly healthy actually tested positive.

"One was a fairly young dog and it was a very light positive and the other was a very strong positive. It came right away and the owner actually said that dog had been on heartworm preventative but they weren't very regular with it," Harrelson says.

To help owners keep their pet's hearts healthy the PETS Clinic is reducing the cost of heartworm tests from $18 to just $9 through the month of February.

Appointments are not necessary.

Just head to the PETS Clinic at 400 Bridge Street in Wichita Falls.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Saturday, February 16th from 12 to 4 p.m.

And, in case you're wondering, treating a heartworm positive animal can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

So prevention is important.