Enter the 2006 Heartgard Challenge Photo Contest!

Last year, Trooper Pallay's "Mom" won a FREE year of heartworm preventative for him, by winning our Heartworm Challenge.  We asked for the first documentable mosquito of spring, and did we get mosquitoes! Live, dead, squashed...you name it, we got it.  But Trooper's Mom was the first: she brought in a documented mosquito she found in her car, on March 27, 2005.  In 2004, the Basile family of Schaumburg won free heartworm preventative for their Lab, Samantha, by showing up with a mosquito they found in their kitchen in late February, and in 2003, the Oandasans won in late February with a mosquito they chased down in their backyard.

This year, YOU could be the winner! But we have a new contest...

Here's what we want THIS year: NO mosquitoes anymore!  E-mail us a GREAT picture of your pet posing with her or his Heartgard heartworm preventative for our website. Send it to our Webmistress Kelly's attention with the subject "Heartgard Contest."

Who can enter the 2006 Heartgard Challenge Photo Contest?

Any Knollwood client whose pictured pet has had a heartworm test at our hospital this year, and who purchased last year's Heartgard from us, is qualified to enter the 2006 photo contest.

What does the winner get?

You get a free year of heartworm preventative, and we get to use your pet's picture on our website.   But that's not all - you also get bragging rights for a full year - you can show all your friends YOUR pet's picture on our website.

Your creativity counts!

We have a highly objective and scientific judging team, consisting of our Webmistress Kelly, our head Nurse Jenny, and Dr. Boudreaux.  They will vote on all pictures received by the end of March, and their decision will be final.  The contest starts NOW, and will close on April 1st.  We'll announce the winner the following week.  The top 5 runner-ups will get bragging rights, too, if they consent the use of their pet's picture on our site through May.

Do you need to be thinking about heartworm preventative now, when it snowed just this week?

Yes, you most certainly do, and here's why:
The arrival of spring mosquitoes starts early, and it brings the threat of heartworm disease, which is fatal to cats and dogs if untreated. In each of the last 10 years, mosquitoes have been found in the Chicago area by March or before. Heartworms circulate in the blood, and grow into large adult worms that live inside your pet’s heart. These worms block the flow of blood through the heart and cause heart, lung, and liver disease – and eventual death.

Who needs to be tested for heartworm disease?

Any dog over 6 months of age at the start of the mosquito season. Any cat that goes outdoors should also be tested. Although cats are better at fighting off heartworms on their own than dogs are, growing numbers of cats are turning up heartworm-positive each year.

Who needs to be taking heartworm preventative?

All dogs, and all cats that spend time outdoors, should be taking their heartworm preventative by the beginning of April. Heartworm medication needs to be continued into December each year. A full 9 months of heartworm prevention is needed in our climate, each and every year.

We have already had TWO heartworm positive test results this year, one in a dog who was rescued from a terrible environment and probably was not on heartworm preventative, and one in a dog who received heartworm medication purchased on-line. Don’t let your pet be the next statistic. Please call us right away at 847-891-8944. We'll be glad to schedule a quick heartworm test with a Nurse, and you can then pick up your pet's preventative once-a-month medication.