You’ve likely heard of heartworm disease, but did you know your pet can become infected through a single mosquito’s bite? Heartworm disease is a severe and potentially fatal condition that affects pets, primarily dogs and cats. Caused by parasitic worms, the disease can ravage an infected pet’s cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Prevention is paramount to keeping your furry friend safe and healthy. Our Peak City Veterinary Hospital team offers strategies to prevent heartworm disease from impacting your pet.

Heartworm disease in pets

Heartworm disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm transmitted to pets through an infected mosquito’s bite. The heartworm larvae take approximately two months to develop and grow into adult heartworms that can live up to seven years in their host. When left untreated, heartworm disease targets the infected pet’s cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, leading to life-threatening conditions. 

Heartworm disease signs in pets

Heartworm disease signs can be subtle or nonexistent if your pet was only recently infected. As the disease progresses, certain conditions may emerge, including:

  • Dry, soft cough
  • Fatigue
  • Exercise reluctance
  • Weight loss
  • Vomiting
  • Decreased appetite
  • Labored breathing 
  • Pale gums
  • Dark urine

Additionally, cats who have heartworm disease can show signs that mimic an upper respiratory infection, allergies, or asthma. As heartworm disease worsens, more severe signs develop, so you must have your pet screened by our Peak City Veterinary Hospital team annually to detect heartworm disease in the condition’s early stages. 

Heartworm disease: Diagnosis and treatment

Considering heartworm disease’s perils, you may wonder if your pet has been infected. During your four-legged friend’s annual wellness exam, our veterinarian tests them for heartworm disease and recommends effective heartworm preventives. Antibody and other diagnostic tests can diagnose heartworms’ presence. 

If your pet is heartworm-positive, we administer medications to gradually kill adult heartworms. Supportive care is often required if heartworms have impacted organ function. If your pet has late-stage heartworm disease or adult heartworms have infiltrated your furry pal’s cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, the worms may have to be surgically removed. Unfortunately, treatment can be arduous, lengthy, and costly, and the process can further harm your pet’s health. For these reasons, prevention is your pet’s best defense. 

How to prevent heartworm disease in your pet

Now that you understand heartworm disease and the risks associated with treatment, learn about prevention. To protect your pet from heartworm disease, follow these tips:

  • Administer monthly preventive medication — The most crucial step in preventing heartworm disease is administering preventive medication to your pet. These medications are available in various forms, including chewable tablets, topical treatments, and injectables. Preventives work by killing heartworms’ immature larvae that mosquitoes have transmitted to your pet. Please consult our team to determine the preventive medication that would be most effective for your pet and follow the recommended dosage schedule diligently.
  • Schedule regular wellness exams — Your pet’s regular wellness visits with our Peak City Veterinary Hospital team are important for monitoring your furry pal’s health and detecting potential issues before they become severe. During these checkups, we assess your pet’s heartworm disease risk based on their age, species, geographical location, and lifestyle. We also conduct heartworm and other parasite screenings, which are critical to early detection and to ensure the heartworm preventive is doing its job.
  • Minimize mosquito exposure — Since mosquitoes are primary heartworm disease vectors, minimizing your pet’s exposure to these insects can help reduce their infection risk. Avoid taking your pet outdoors during peak mosquito activity times, typically at dawn and dusk. Additionally, use mosquito repellents that are safe for pets, and consider using mosquito netting in outdoor living areas to help keep mosquitoes out.
  • Keep mosquitoes out of your yard — Mosquitoes thrive where standing water and foliage exist. To discourage mosquitoes’ breeding habitats, eliminate standing water sources by regularly emptying and cleaning outdoor water bowls and birdbaths. Doing so prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs. Maintain your yard by mowing the lawn and trimming vegetation, including weeds and tall grasses.

Preventing heartworm disease requires a combination of preventive medication, regular veterinary exams, minimizing mosquito exposure, keeping your environment clean, and staying informed about the disease. By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your pet’s heartworm disease risk and ensure their long-term health and happiness. Make an appointment with our Peak City Veterinary Hospital team for heartworm screening and prevention tailored to your furry friend’s unique needs.