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An important part of animal care involves closely monitoring your pet’s health and overall well-being. This includes proactively taking preventative stems to ensure your pet doesn’t develop any serious health conditions, such as heartworm disease, even while they appear to be at their healthiest. Because April is National Heartworm Awareness month, use the below FAQ to learn more about how heartworms impact your pet’s health and what you can do to protect them from this sometimes fatal disease. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Heartworm Disease

What is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is a condition that can have serious health ramifications for your pet if left untreated, including lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and even death. It’s often spread via infected mosquitoes that drink tainted blood from one afflicted animal and transport it to the next animal they bite. The infection then festers and develops within the animal’s heart. These worms can grow to be nearly a foot long and work there way through the animal’s blood stream, disrupting the proper functionality of the lungs and blood vessels.

What animals are vulnerable to catching it?

animal careHeartworms can be contracted by both cats and dogs, but the disease can manifest differently between the two species. Dogs are a natural host for heartworms, thus have enough of a tolerance to host hundreds of adult worms and their offspring. Cats, however, are an atypical host, so most worms do not grow to the adult stage inside a cat. Despite these parasites being less likely to fully mature inside a cat host, they can still lead to a number of medical complications in felines, including a condition that scientists refer to as heartworm associated respiratory disease or HARD. 

What are the symptoms of heartworm disease?

Though heartworm symptoms in both cats and dogs can start out mildly, they become more serious as the disease progresses. In cats, you may notice asthma-like attacks, vomiting, and a decrease in appetite during the beginning stages. As the illness progresses, your cat may experience difficulty walking or even succumb to fainting spells. Canines may exhibit coughing spells, fatigue, and weight loss, and progressive abdominal swelling. It could also lead to heart failure in dogs, if treatment is neglected for too long. Early diagnosis is crucial to treatment, so schedule an animal care visit with your veterinarian if you notice the above symptoms in either your dog or cat. 

How is it treated?

While currently there aren’t any commercial vaccinations available to defend against heartworms, there are preventative medications you can easily administer to your pet on an annual basis. Should your pet test positive for heartworms, your veterinarian will recommend the best treatment plan based on your particular situation. This typically involves a 60-day medication regiment, which also includes injections designed to kill the worms. Once treatment is completed, your pet should be tested six months later to ensure all the larvae and worms have been eliminated.

 

If you suspect your dog or cat may have heartworms, trust the compassionate animal care administered by TLC Pet Care Centers. Serving Cincinnati, OH, of over 30 years, these professionals provide vital health care services to several kinds of pets, from cats and dogs to small reptiles. To learn more about the premier veterinary clinic’s preventative treatment offerings online. You can also give them a call at (513) 683-2300 to reach the Montgomery Road location or (513) 825-4011 to get the facility on Hamilton Ave.

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