Pet Heartworm Prevention
Mosquito bites can transmit heartworm infections, which can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. Keep them safe with constant prevention.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworms are transmitted from mosquito bites, which can easily reach pets even while they’re not outdoors. These parasites can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection in those that do, symptoms can vary widely.
In dogs, signs of heartworm disease can range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” (a form of liver failure) without prompt surgical intervention, this condition usually causes death.
Protecting Your Pets from Heartworm
Unlike what many cat owners believe, cats can indeed get heartworms. Infections in cats can lead to heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD), causing subtle symptoms that may mimic those of asthma or allergic bronchitis. Signs of respiratory distress such as rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing, and panting, are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight. Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs.
Treatment for dogs suffering from heartworm infection is far more expensive than prevention. Depending on the severity of the infection, heartworm treatment can even kill your dog.
There is no approved heartworm treatment for cats. Some cats spontaneously rid themselves of the infection, while others might not survive it. Even one or two adult heartworms in a cat can cause serious problems.
Fortunately, you can keep dogs and cats safe by administering monthly heartworm preventives. Most heartworm medications also protect your pet against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, and ticks. We can recommend a regimen of prevention for your pet.