Stuffed toy heartworm

We have some pretty crazy stuffed animals at Tapir and Friends Animal Store online. This very cute stuffed heartworm can be used for any number of purposes from a gift for your veterinarian to a reminder to feed your pet its heartworm pills! Or what about a friendly prop for a demo in vet school? Or even as a toy for your dog or cat!

Our Heartworm

This, strange-looking stuffed heartworm is an unusual replica. It is 9 inches long and is made of white synthetic fur and has large eyes and wears a collar. If you aren't a worm lover, you will be after you own this adorable little fella. I am not sure you'll want to give it to your dog though! This plush heartworm toy makes a nice pet, a gift, toy or gag and could work well for a school play or show-and-tell as a school science project. You might want to give our stuffed heartworm to your favorite veterinarian as a gift. On the other hand, veterinarians might like to keep a few of these around the office as a gift for a favorite client or as a reminder to give your pet those heartworm pills! In fact, if you know anyone who has trouble remembering to keep their pet's heartworm pills current, this could be an excellent reminder! Check out our other worm toys and gifts.

About Heartworms

Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm (Dirofilaria immitis) that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Heartworms are classified as nematodes (roundworms) and are filarids, one of many species of roundworms. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection.

The Tag on Our Heartworm Says:

FACTS: You're not the only one who loves dogs - numerous parasites on the inside and outside of man's best friend use him as their own little ecosystem. Most are harmless annoyances, but heartworm (or Dirofilaria immitis) can cause serious complications and even death if left untreated.

Thin, spaghetti-like parasites, heartworms typically reside in the pulmonary arteries and hearts of their hosts. An infected dog can have as many as 250 worms. As they grow, the worms constrict blood supplies to the heart and lungs, causing infected animals to develop coughs, become listless, and lose their appetites.

Microscopic offspring called microfilariae are released by female worms after mating. These get sucked up by mosquitoes and develop into larvae that can infect the next host. Because larvae can only develop when it's hot, summer is a particularly dangerous time for transmission. However, since symptoms take six months to appear, winter is the time to be most aware.

Come on over and check out our stuffed plush heartworm toy!

Give someone a cute pig nose "Swine Flu" H1N1 - don't give the actual virus!

Did you imagine anyone would make a swine flu virus plush toy? Well, the ever-creative and ever-weird Giantmicrobes did just that.

Our Swine Flu (Influenza A virus H1N1) Plush Stuffed Toy

This imaginative-looking stuffed, plush swine flu (Influenza A virus H1N1) toy is soft and cuddly and is 5 1/2 inches long. It is adorned with red plastic eyes and embroidered nostrils. The surface is washable: Simply sponge with a mixture of warm water and mild soap. Allow to air dry, then brush to restore fabric to its original fullness. (SAFETY PRECAUTION: Remove plastic hangtags and ribbons before giving to a child under 3 years of age.) This stuffed plush swine flu virus replica is a great collectible or makes for a gag gift. Check out our other worm, leech, and virus toys and gifts.

About the Swine Flu (Influenza A virus H1N1)

Swine flu is an influenza virus that usually affects pigs. However, just as the common, seasonal flu that affects humans is constantly mutating (as our immune systems and vaccines compromise weaker strains), swine flu is always trying to improve itself so that it can become more virulent, spread faster - and even associate with better company. Occasionally, a pig-headed virus such as Influenza A (H1 N1) actually succeeds and begins infecting other species - like humans. Naturally, this raises philosophical questions as to whether it is still a swine flu: since it's new, it isn't widespread in the porcine population - and anyway, once it's affecting other species, well. . . . Nevertheless, once a virus such as swine flu makes the jump to another species, the health risks in the new population are substantial. In the original host-population, some immunities generally exist against the original strain, and these immunities are often at least partially effective against new mutations. In a new host, however, there may be no natural immunity to the original strain and no partial immunity to the new strain - so the virus can spread rapidly. In addition, a virus that produces mild effects in one species may be life-threatening in another - so catastrophic health consequences can result. Fortunately, swine flu viruses are generally fragile, and in most cases basic health precautions (such as hand-washing and avoiding close contact with those who are ill) significantly reduce the chance of infection. Nevertheless, the dangers of future mutations and infections will continue to abound until, well, pigs fly.

Pre-loved Beanie Babies in store for you!

We got into the Beanie Baby craze a little late, but once we discovered them, we were hooked! Ty Beanie Babies are so cute, and unlike some stuffed animals, you can pose them, because they are floppy and the beans hold them in place. Beanie Babies have so much personality that they keep being discovered by one generation of kids and adults after another. All of our Beanie Babies are used and recycled, so the price stays low. We've made it simple by charging just $4.00 per beanie. You can get one or more, and the price is the same. We don't sort them by their market value to collectors, so sometimes you'll find a special one - also for $4.00!

As of our count on May 1, 2009, here are the beanies we have in stock. Our inventory changes, so you'll need to refer to our web page to see what we have at the time you order:

2001 Holiday Teddy Bear, wearing beaded flag pin, Date of Birth: December 24, 2000, bent tag - 1 available

Almond the Bear, Date of Birth: April 14, 1999 - 1 available

Amber the Cat, Date of Birth: February 21, 1999 - 1 available

Ariel the Bear, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation - 1 available

Banana the Orangutan, Date of Birth: June 30, 2000 - 1 available

Beak the Kiwi Bird, Date of Birth: February 3, 1998, no tag - 1 available

Bessie the Cow, Date of Birth: June 27, 1995 - 1 available

Buzzie the Bee, Date of Birth: October 10, 2000, 1 available

Butch the Bull Terrier, Date of Birth: October 2, 1998, no tag - 1 available

Canyon the Cougar, Date of Birth: May 29, 1998, 1 no tag - 1 available

Cashew the Bear, Date of Birth: April 22, 2000 - 1 available

Cheezer the Mouse, Date of Birth: May 9, 2000 - 1 available

Chocolate the Moose, Date of Birth: April 27, 1993, 1 no tag - 2 available

Clubby II, Date of Birth: March 9, 1999 - 2 available

Curly the Bear, Date of Birth: April 12, 1996 - 1 available

Derby the Horse, Date of Birth: September 16, 1995, 1 no tag star head

Dobie the Doberman, Date of Birth: October 9, 1996 - 1 available

Flitter the Butterfly, Date of Birth: June 2, 1999 - 2 available

Frigid the Penguin, Date of Birth: January 21, 2000 no tag - 1 available

Glow the Firefly, Date of Birth: January 4, 2000 - 1 available

Goatee the Mountain Goat, Date of Birth: November 4,1998 - 2 available

Goochy the Jellyfish, Date of Birth: November 18, 1998 - 1 available

Gracie the Goose, Date of Birth: June 17, 1996 - 2 available

Hope the Praying Bear, Date of Birth: March 23, 1998, 1 no tag - 2 available

Honks the Goose, Date of Birth: March 11, 1999 - 1 available

Hoofer the Horse, Date of Birth: November 17, 2001 - 1 available

Jabber the Parrot, Date of Birth: October 10, 1997 - 2 available

Jake the Drake, Date of Birth: April 16, 1997, 1 bent tag - 2 available

KuKu the Cockatoo, Date of Birth: January 5, 1997 - 2 available

Lips the Fish, Date of Birth: May 15, 1999, no tag - 1 available

Little Star the Bear, Date of Birth: June 4, 2005 - 1 available

Loosy the Goose, Date of Birth: March 29, 1998 - 2 available

Mac the Cardinal, Date of Birth: June 10, 1998, 1 available

Mel the Koala Bear, Date of Birth: January 25, 1996 1 available

Millennium the Bear, Date of Birth: January 1, 1999, 1 available

Nibbly the Rabbit, Date of Birth: May 7, 1998, 2 available

Nuts the Squirrel, Date of Birth: January 21, 1996, 1 available

Peace the Bear, Date of Birth: February 1, 1996, 2 available

Peanut the Elephant, Date of Birth: January 25, 1995, 1 available

Pecan the Bear, Date of Birth: April 15 1999, 1 available

Pouch the Kangaroo, Date of Birth: November 6, 1996, 1 available

Quackers the Duck, Date of Birth: April 18, 1994, bent tag - 1 available

Rainbow the Chameleon, Date of Birth: October 14, 1997, 1 no tag - 2 available

Roam the Bison, Date of Birth: January 27, 1998, 2 no tag - 3 available

Rocket the Blue Jay, Date of Birth: March 12, 1997 - 2 available

Sammy the Bear, Date of Birth: June 23, 1998 - 1 available

Santa the Santa, Date of Birth: December 6, 1998 - 1 available

Scurry the Beetle, Date of Birth: January 18, 2000 - 2 available

Seaweed the Otter, Date of Birth: March 19, 1998, no tag - 1 available

Sherwood the Bear, Date of Birth: September 8, 2002 - 1 available

Smart the Owl, Class of 2001, Date of Birth: June 7, 2000 - 1 available

Snort the Bull, Date of Birth: May 15, 1995 - 1 available

Stilts the Stork, Date of Birth: June 16, 1998 - 1 available

Stinger the Scorpion, Date of Birth: September 29, 1997 - 2 available

Teddy 100 Years Bear, coin missing, no tag, January 20, 2002 - 1 available

Tiptoe the Mouse, Date of Birth: January 8, 1999, no tag - 1 available

Tuffy the Terrier, Date of Birth: October 12, 1996 - 1 available

Waves the Orca Whale Date of Birth: December 8, 1996 - 1 available

Wise the Owl, Class of 1998, Date of Birth: May 31, 1997 - 1 available

Wooly the Sheep, Classic 1995, retired, bent tag - 1 available

Zodiac Goat, retired - 1 available

Zodiac Monkey, no tag, retired - 1 available

Zodiac Rat, retired - 1 available

Come see our Ty Beanie Babies!

Stuffed mountain lion (cougar, puma) is back in stock!

Our beautiful and popular stuffed mountain lion (cougar, puma) is back in stock. We're happy to see him perched in his old spot again looking down on our showroom and surprising customers! He's also available for shipping. See our stuffed mountain lion here! At 21 inches long, he's quite huggable. He also makes a good "guard cat" for a child's room. Thanks!

Stuffed catfish soft toy - a few more still available!

Here he is - stuffed, sassy, and ready for a new home! These stuffed blue catfish have been super-popular this year, and we have only a few left. Get yours while they're hot (er . . . cold?). Our plush catfish toy is a winner, and once they're gone, they're gone forever. The manufacturer has decided to discontinue them, and the ones we have in stock now are all we can get! Of you love catfish or know someone who likes them, don't miss out!

This stuffed baby orangutan plush toy from Hansa will be your pal

This bright-eyed orangutan baby looks almost real! He or she will make an enchanted Holiday gift for the adult or child who loves great apes or appreciates realistic primate toys! Learn more about this stuffed orangutan and order at Tapir and Friends Wildlife World online!