Mama German Shepherd And Her Baby Get Rescued Together And Their Bond Is Unbreakable
While there are so many well-loved pets in the world, the sad reality is that there are just as many, if not more, discarded dogs and cats that struggle to survive. If they're lucky, they find a new home or animal rescue organization that's willing to take them in — and boy, did this mama German shepherd and her baby get lucky by being rescued off the streets together.
@simmers_me_down On January 1st, this mama German Shepherd and her puppy found their way to our house. Skinny, covered in ticks, and surviving on trash. We don't know what they've been through, only that they've been through it together. We took them in, gave them care, safety, and love, and now we're hoping to find them a forever home. Their bond is unbreakable, and we won't break it either. They deserve a future as beautiful as the loyalty they show each other. #rescuedog #germanshepherd #puppy #memphis #mama
In a TikTok video, their bumpy journey is laid out: The two sweet German shepherds were found underweight, covered in ticks, and surviving on eating trash, according to the original poster, who took them in and gave them attention, affection, and medical assistance. Meanwhile, the sweet clip of the two dogs shows them lovingly playing ball together, their bond noticeably strong.
"MY HEART," one person simply noted in the comments. Meanwhile, in a follow-up post by the family who first took them in, it was revealed that both dogs had medical issues, including heartworm, and were headed to separate homes to begin the next chapter of their journey. The puppy went to live with the content creator's sister, and the mama dog went to a different home via adoption through a dog rescue organization in hopes of helping her recover completely from heartworm. "We'll definitely miss both dogs, but we're so happy knowing they're both going to be safe and loved 🐾," the original poster notes in the follow-up video. Wherever the dogs are now, we hope they're doing well!
What is heartworm and is it treatable?
If you're wondering how heartworm affected the mama German shepherd, it's a serious condition in both dogs and cats caused by parasites that are passed through mosquito bites. Once infected, the worms can live in a pet's heart, lungs, and blood vessels, where significant damage can happen over time.
For dogs, heartworm can be treated, but the process is lengthy and costly. Treatment usually involves a series of injections and medications to kill the adult worms and target immature parasites and eggs. During recovery, dogs must stay calm and limit activity because dead worms can be dangerous in their lungs. The good news is that dogs diagnosed before severe damage occurs often recover well. Cats, on the other hand, are handled differently because their heartworms mature differently, which unfortunately means the same treatment as dogs is not effective and can be fatal. In fact, there is currently no approved medication that safely eliminates heartworms in cats, so treatment instead focuses on managing symptoms and supporting the cat's health until the worms hopefully die naturally.
As treatment in both species can be difficult and risky, prevention is key when it comes to heartworm. That is why it is recommended to keep pets on year-round heartworm prevention medication like Tri-Heart Plus or Heartgard Plus, so consult with your veterinarian about this easy, affordable safeguard!
Always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet, exercise, or care. To find an accredited veterinarian in your area, you can search the American Animal Hospital Association's online database.