Pets and Heartworm

Heartworms are a serious threat to all pets and all it takes is one infected mosquito to transfer the disease to your dog or cat via a bite.  Heartworm infection is a common health issue that affects dozens of mammals including ferrets, foxes, various wild animals, and on rare occasion, humans. It  starts when one mosquito (carrying heartworm larvae) bites an animal and transmits the parasites inside the bloodstream.  Over a period of 2 or 3 months the larvae grows and eventually release more microfilariae, also know as the offspring.  The parasites contribute nothing but take up space in the heart or lungs where they continue to procreate more parasitic worms. The end result is often tragic for most pets as the heartworms will eventually kill the animal if not treated in a timely manner.  Read on further to find how to to prevent and treat heartworms. The scientific name for the the parasite is Dirofilaria immtis and it affects both dogs and cats, although the latter has a slightly lower risk for the infection. The heartworm parasite usually nests inside the hearts of dogs or lungs of cats.  Oftentimes, it is hard to tell if and when a pet is infected with it because your pet probably won't exhibit any clinical signs of the illness until the latter stages which can sometimes take 3 years or more. Some of the clinical signs include difficulty breathing, fatigue, and moderate to major weight loss. Of course, these general symptoms are vague and are in no way to indicate that your pet has heartworm. Check with your vet for more information. If your veterinarian thinks that your pet has the heartworm infection, they will do either a blood test or ultrasound.  The good news is that there are many treatment options available for canines, unfortunately the same cannot be said for cats. Remember that the best thing you can do for your pet (cat or dog) is to put them on prevention medication. Your pet's veterinarian will probably prescribe a once-a-month pill like Sentinel or Heartguard. Remember to consult your vet before administering any medications to your pet.