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HEARTWORM DISEASE |
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Treatment for heartworm disease is expensive, traumatic, and
RISKY!
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Lasts for 4 to 6 months |
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Calls for multiple injections of an arsenic-based drug |
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Requires that owner crate and isolate pet for 6 - 8 weeks |
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Involves significant expense - can cost up to $1,000 |
In many cases, clinical signs are not noticeable in the
early stages of heartworm disease Heartworm is spread only by
mosquitoes and all dogs are at risk |
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| WHAT IS A HEARTWORM & HOW DOES MY PET GET IT? |
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| The heartworm is a parasite that live in
the heart of a cat or dog. Immature, or baby heartworms are called
microfilaria and circulate through the bloodstream. Heartworms cause
damage to the heart as the worms mature and restrict blood flow. This damage
is called "heartworm disease." Mosquitoes spread this disease from other
animals. Heartworm disease is not
just a canine disease. Heartworms affect cats differently than dogs, but the
disease they cause is equally
serious.
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TESTING |
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| A blood test is required to check for
adult heartworm living in the heart. It is recommend to have a test for
heartworms done annually. Having the test done can diagnose heartworms early
and before irreparable damage is done to the heart. The symptoms of
heartworm disease can go undetected until it's very late in the disease. |
 There
is a blood test for dogs and cats. |
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| PREVENTION |
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| A monthly preventative medicine is given throughout the year.
It is recommended to treat all twelve months of the year, no matter your
location as there is always a chance of exposure. Most heartworm
preventatives also treat for intestinal parasites (worms), protecting your
pet even more! |
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For cats: there is a monthly
tablet or a topical available to prevent heartworms.
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| TREATMENT |
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| Treatment for heartworm disease, but it
is costly, dangerous and painful for your dog. There is no treatment
available for cats. Therefore, we strongly recommend that pet owners
use prevention in all cases. Contact your veterinarian for more
information. |
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| For more information on both Feline and
Canine Heartworm Disease please visit the
American Heartworm Society. |
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