More than 70 species of mosquitoes can transmit heartworm disease to your dog or cat.  Mosquitoes have been around for a long time.  The oldest fossil of their current form is dated at 79 million years old.  Persistent pests, aren't they?  You know protecting your pet from heartworm disease in the summer during peak insect season can be a life-saving investment.  But did you know your furry friend needs preventative medication all year long?  Most of the heartworm preventatives also protect dogs and cats against common intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.  Sentinel has the added benefit of preventing flea eggs from hatching.  Watch this video:   https://www.sentinelpet.com/about-parasites/fleas

 

Another benefit of giving year round heartworm medication to your dog is the prevention of the fatal parasite Baylisascaris.  It is a roundworm passed in the stool of raccoons.  If your dog (or child) ingests feces or soil contaminated with this roundworm egg, the parasitic worm can migrate to their eye or brain and cause blindness or fatal encephalitis.  You can obtain year-round medication from your veterinarian to ensure your pet never contracts these dangerous diseases.  

 

Heartworms grow in the lungs and hearts of infected cats and dogs and can reach up to 12 inches long. The disease is easy to contract if an infected mosquito bites your pet, but it’s far harder and more costly to treat a dog with heartworm disease.  Some dogs die of heartworm disease despite treatment, therefore, prevention is your best strategy. 

 

In cats, heartworm disease is not curable. In fact, heartworm testing is more complex and less accurate in cats, making prevention your best strategy in cats, too. Since mosquitoes can come indoors, indoor cats are also susceptible.  The additional cost of the medication is far less than the investment you would make in diagnosing and treating heartworms, and it far outweighs the possibility of losing your beloved animal.

 

Clark Animal Care Center in Penfield, NY, will provide heartworm/intestinal parasite preventatives for your four-legged friend throughout the year. The animal veterinary hospital is AAHA-accredited and offers high-quality, compassionate health care for pets. Each dog and cat that comes through their doors is treated like family. Call (585) 377-1160 or request your appointment online today.