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Preventing Heartworm Disease in Pets

Preventing Heartworm Disease in Pets

Heartworm disease is a mosquito-borne infection that primarily affects cats, dogs, and ferrets. Heartworm disease is a serious condition that, if left untreated, can lead to organ failure and death. Today, our Clearlake veterinarians explain why prevention is essential.

What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is spread through mosquito bites and is primarily caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. 

Pets such as dogs, cats, and ferrets can become hosts for heartworms, which means the parasitic worms can live, mate, and reproduce in the animal's body. Heartworm disease is named after the worms that live in an infected pet's heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

What Are The Symptoms Of Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease symptoms usually do not appear until the disease has progressed. Swollen abdomen, coughing, fatigue, weight loss, and difficulty breathing are the most common symptoms of heartworm disease.

How Does My Vet Check My Pet For Heartworms?

Blood tests can be performed by your veterinarian to detect heartworm proteins (antigens) that are released into the animal's bloodstream. Heartworm proteins are not detectable until approximately five months (at the most) after an animal is bitten by an infected mosquito.

What If My Pet Is Diagnosed With Heartworm?

Heartworm treatment differs between cats and dogs. Heartworm treatment is frequently time-consuming, unpleasant, and potentially dangerous for your pet—not to mention costly for you. This is why we believe that the best treatment for heartworm disease is prevention.

If your pet has heartworms, your veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you. For dogs, an FDA-approved medication containing arsenic (melarsomine dihydrochloride) will be administered through a series of injections into your dog's back muscles. Because this treatment is toxic to cats, your veterinarian will discuss alternative therapies with you.

Heartworms can live in dogs for 5-7 years while those in cats typically only live for 2-3. 

How Can I Prevent My Pet From Getting Heartworm Disease?

To prevent heartworm disease, it is critical to keep your pet on preventive medication. We recommend that dogs be tested for heartworms annually, even if they are already on preventive heartworm medication.

Heartworm prevention is much safer, easier, and less expensive than treating the disease once it has progressed. Several heartworm preventive medications can also help protect against other parasites like hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.

Do you want to protect your pet from heartworm? Book an appointment at Clearlake Veterinary Clinic today to discuss parasite preventives with one of our veterinarians. 

New Patients Welcome

Clearlake Veterinary Clinic is accepting new patients! Our experienced vets are passionate about the health of Clearlake companion animals. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.

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