No matter where you live, cats and dogs are at risk for heartworms. These long, thin worms are transmitted through mosquito bites and live in the lungs, heart, and blood vessels of animals. They cause a life-threatening condition that’s difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to treat. The best way to keep pets safe from these parasites is with heartworm prevention. Learn more about the harmful effects of heartworms and how to avoid them below.

The Importance of Heartworm Prevention

What Are the Risks of Heartworm Disease?

All it takes for infection is a single mosquito bite. As deposited heartworms mature, they migrate to the heart and lungs and begin to reproduce. If left untreated, a single dog can host hundreds of heartworms at once. Heartworm disease wreaks havoc on the cardiovascular areas the parasites inhabit. Infected pets may eventually suffer from heart failure, lung disease, and organ damage.

Adult worms can survive for several years inside pets. The longer the disease is left untreated, the more harm and permanent damage is done. While dogs can be administered treatment, the disease often goes undetected for months. Additionally, there is no known cure for cats. Heartworm prevention is the best method of ensuring your pet’s health.

How Can Heartworms Be Prevented?

If your dog tests positive for heartworm disease, they will undergo intensive treatment and significant lifestyle changes. Diagnosed cats will need consistent monitoring, a long-term management plan, and potential hospitalization. However, with heartworm prevention, the risk of infection lowers drastically. Medication administered over several months in the form of injections, pills, and topical medicine kills heartworms in their larval stage, preventing them from maturing entirely. Make sure you never miss a monthly dosage to bolster the medication’s efficiency.

Although heartworm prevention is remarkably effective, it does not guarantee your pet will be heartworm-free. If your pet rubs off topical medicine or hides pills, for instance, they are once again at risk. To ensure your cat or dog is in top shape, take them to their veterinarian for an annual pet wellness exam. Through blood testing, your vet will be able to detect any existing heartworms.

For Troy & Wentzville Veterinary Clinic of Lincoln County, MO, preventative care is a priority. With personalized heartworm prevention programs and flea and tick control, this full-service animal hospital is committed to providing your pet with the best possible care. Their knowledgeable veterinarians will explain how to keep the risk of infection low, from pest-proofing your home to making your pet’s lifestyle safer. For more information about their services, visit their website. Call (636) 528-4534 to schedule an appointment.