Heartworm prevention is key to the longevity of your dog’s health. According to veterinary medicine, the simple act of giving your dog a monthly heartworm preventative treatment will add years to the life of your loyal four-legged family member. The veterinarians and staff at Waipio Pet Clinic of Waipahu, HI, focus on animal wellness through their comprehensive general veterinary services for dogs and cats. The dedicated team of skilled professionals has more than 75 years of collective experience in bringing the best animal health, surgical, spaying and neutering, and preventative cancer treatment services to the pet owners in their community. 

Today, advancements in veterinary medicine have made heartworm prevention easy and convenient. Heartworm disease is caused by foot-long worms that invade and subsequently reside in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of dogs and cats, causing heart failure, lung disease, and severe damage to other organs. The disease is only spread by the bite of a mosquito, and not from a dog being near other infected dogs. Heartworm disease, though potentially fatal, can be prevented when the right measures are taken. If left untreated, however, progressive heartworm disease will eventually lead to death. 

A simple blood test by your veterinarian will detect the presence of heartworm proteins. Puppies under seven months of age can be started on a heartworm preventative medication without a blood test. Older dogs, however, will begin on monthly preventative medication only after negative test results. 

Signs and Symptoms of Heartworm Disease

The severity of heartworm disease depends on how many worms are living inside the dog, how long the dog has been infected, and how the dog was exposed. Dogs with a low number of worms may not immediately show signs or symptoms. However, dogs with a high amount of worms in their systems, or who have been infected for an extended period, will display obvious symptoms.   

Heartworm disease typically has four stages. Class four is the worst possible stage of the disease and will often lead to death. Dogs in early stages of the disease exhibit symptoms such as a mild or occasional cough and exhaustion after light activity. In later stages, dogs will have a persistent cough, prolonged exhaustion after activity, trouble breathing, and the beginning stages of heart failure. 

Why Heartworm Protection Is Important for Your Dog’s Health

Treatment for heartworm disease is expensive, potentially toxic, and difficult for dogs, as it can cause serious complications. The best treatment for heartworm disease is prevention. All preventative heartworm treatments require a veterinarian’s prescription and are given monthly as either an oral tablet (chewable or non-chewable) or liquid applied topically to the skin. Regardless of the method, year-round prevention works best. Your dog’s veterinarian will help you decide which preventative method works best for your dog. 

For more information about the veterinary medicine of Waipio Pet Clinic, please visit their website. If you think your dog has been exposed to heartworms, call (808) 676-2205 today to schedule an appointment.