Keeping your pets safe and healthy is part of your responsibility as their owner. There are things you do every day to protect their well-being such as giving them nutritious food and clean water, putting them on a leash when you go outside, not leaving them alone in the car, keeping potentially dangerous or toxic items out of their reach, and making sure doors and gates are closed to reduce the chances of your pet slipping out.
Another aspect of keeping them safe is scheduling regular checkups, getting recommended vaccinations, and giving them preventive treatments such as heartworm medication. It is critical that medication is taken as prescribed, and no doses are missed or late as that can put your pet at risk. Heartworm disease can affect both dogs and cats, though it is more common in dogs, and it can develop at any time during the year.
What is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworms are parasites that infect the heart and adjacent arteries and blood vessels in dogs, cats, and other animals. The parasites are transmitted through mosquito bites. The mosquito bites an infected animal, and the larvae grow in the mosquito. Then, the mosquito transfers these larvae to your dog or cat when they are bitten. The larvae grow and mature in their new host animal (your pet), where they develop into heartworms and continue to reproduce.
Adult heartworms cause inflammation in the dog’s heart and surrounding tissue, which can lead to narrowing of the arteries, scarring, and increased blood pressure. The heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood through the body. Eventually heartworm disease can lead to heart failure if left untreated or treated too late.
What are the Signs of Heartworm Disease?
It can take years for noticeable symptoms of heartworm disease to develop. As the heartworms multiply, they cause more damage. The parasites can grow to be up to 14 inches long and live an average of five to seven years.
Some signs of disease include:
- Mild cough
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
Testing for heartworm disease should be part of your dog’s annual physical. It is a simple blood test that checks for heartworm proteins. If your dog tests positive, they will begin an aggressive treatment regimen to kill the worms. Treatment is generally more effective when the disease is caught early.
Protecting Against Heartworms
One of the best ways you can protect your dog or cat against heartworm disease is to give them preventive medication. Often this is a chewable, pill, or topical application administered monthly. It is essential to give the medication on time every month so there are no gaps in protection. If your pet is bitten by an infected mosquito, the medication kills the larvae before it matures and reproduces. Preventive care has a high success rate in preventing heartworm disease. Talk to your veterinarian about the right choice for your pet.
Mosquitoes like warm, moist environments, so while they are most prevalent during the summer, they can also emerge during warm spells in the winter.
- Try to avoid areas with standing water such as puddles, bird baths, swimming pools, lakes, and ponds.
- Clean up brush around your yard and dump out any water that has collected on furniture, flowerpots, or other surfaces.
- Kill any mosquitoes that may find their way into your home as well.
Knowing that your dog is on a preventive treatment plan can help give you greater peace of mind, especially if you like to take your dog out and about with you, or they go to the dog park or get boarded. While heartworm prevention medication may not be required, it is recommended. Be proactive about protecting their health.
Contact Lake Wylie Pet Resort to book your pet’s next stay or schedule them for grooming.