Meet Cookie—a sweet and adventurous 7-year-old pit bull with a big heart and an even bigger personality. This month, as we shine a spotlight on heartworm awareness, we’re sharing Cookie’s inspiring story. She not only overcame heartworm disease but came out the other side stronger, healthier, and ready to tackle mountain trails with her favorite human.
When Cookie was adopted, her new owner was told that she had heartworms, but the severity of the disease—and the treatment ahead—wasn’t fully understood at the time.
“I didn’t think much of it because I wasn’t privy to the treatment process and the effects it had on Cookie. I was told it would be simple and gentle, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case,” he said when asked what his thoughts were when he found out her diagnosis.
Cookie’s journey began with what’s known as the “slow kill method,” a treatment that involves treatment with heartworm prevention over a minimum of 1 year. Often times, this method of treatment can take years and doesn’t always succeed. After 18 months without progress, the decision was made to switch to the more aggressive, fast-kill protocol.
“I began to do more research and quickly learned how hard the aggressive treatment can be on dogs. It broke my heart. Cookie is the sweetest girl, and the thought of her in pain was devastating,”Dad commented.
And it was tough. Cookie endured three painful injections of melarsomine—each one taxing her body and spirit. Her owner recalled those weeks as some of the hardest, not only for Cookie but for themselves as well. He says that he felt useless as her owner because he couldn’t explain to her why she was hurting— he could only try to comfort her.
Beyond the emotional toll, heartworm treatment required a major lifestyle shift. Cookie’s owner is an avid outdoor enthusiast and had dreamed of bringing his new pup along for every adventure—trail runs, hikes, mountain biking, even golfing. But for nearly two years, those dreams were put on pause.
“She couldn’t join in any of those activities until she was completely heartworm free,” he explained.
Today, we’re thrilled to share that Cookie has made a full recovery. Not only is she heartworm free—she’s finally living her best life. She even completed her first backpacking trip last summer, a milestone her owner described as a celebration of her strength and resilience.
“All of my favorite activities have now become her favorite activities too.”
When asked what advice he’d give to other pet parents, Cookie’s owner didn’t hesitate:
“Stay proactive with prevention. The treatment process is grueling and incredibly expensive. Keeping up with heartworm preventatives will save your dog a lot of pain—and save your wallet.”
Through it all, Cookie’s owner credits their support system—especially Dr. Kuester—for helping them get through the most difficult parts of treatment.
“I don’t think anything could have truly prepared me for this experience. But I’m very appreciative of Dr. Kuester’s help and advice throughout.”
Cookie’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of heartworm prevention, the strength of our pets, and the unbreakable bond between a dog and their human. As we honor Heartworm Awareness Month, we’re proud to share Cookie’s journey and celebrate her as our Patient Spotlight.
Here’s to many more trails, summits, and sunny days ahead. 🐾 ❤️
Written by Shelby Hill – April 16th, 2025
