Your veterinarian may have spoken to you about heartworms, a parasite that can make your pet very ill. But, if you have not yet had that conversation, we hope you will learn a bit about heartworm prevention and treatment, so you are prepared for your next visit.
How Pets Can Get Heartworms
Heartworms are parasites that are carried from one infected animal to another by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes feed off blood, so if their first bite is from an animal that has heartworms, then the next animal they bite will become infected. That is how quickly infection can happen.
Testing For Heartworms
Testing for heartworms is recommended once every twelve months during annual veterinary visits. Testing is the easiest way to determine if your pet has been infected. This is also necessary if your pet has missed any doses of preventive medication, and you are planning on restarting prevention medication.
Heartworm Prevention
Preventing heartworms is primarily done using medication and should be given throughout the year. Options include an injection given once or twice a year at the veterinary clinic, a monthly chewable tablet, or topical medicine. Some of these options even include prevention for common parasites such as roundworms, fleas, and ticks. Check with your veterinarian to find the right option for your pet.
Treatment of Heartworm Disease
The good news is there is treatment available for heartworms for dogs, but whether treatment will be successful will depend on how much damage has been done by the heartworms. The treatment for dogs consists of monthly shots to kill off the worms, followed by rest to allow your dog’s heart and lungs to recover. Unfortunately, there is not yet treatment available for cats or other animals that may become infected.
If you have not discussed heartworm prevention with your veterinarian, call them today to discuss your pet’s prevention options.