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Heartworm disease is a dangerous infection that affects both cats and dogs. April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, so pet health experts everywhere advise owners to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments involved. The following guide explains everything you should know about heartworm to better protect your pet.

What Are Heartworms?

Heartworms are foot-long parasites transferred between affected animals via mosquito bites. Once inside their hosts, they typically reside in the lungs, heart, and blood stream. Heartworms reproduce quickly, often causing significant damage to various vital organs throughout the body.

Why Are Heartworms Dangerous?

pet healthIf left untreated, heartworm disease can be fatal. In dogs, heartworms are capable of living to adulthood and producing offspring, creating a continuous cycle of infection. Even after the parasites have been eradicated, dogs may experience lasting damage like heart failure and lung disease. Symptoms of heartworm disease include loss of appetite, lethargy, and weight loss.

Dogs are more common hosts, but cats are still susceptible to infection. Because they are not typical hosts, heartworms generally don’t live long enough to reach maturity in cats. Most cases reveal only a few immature worms. However, even this level of infection can be life-threatening, especially because the disease often goes undetected in cats. It causes lifelong damage to pet health in the form of heartworm-associated respiratory disease. Watch for vomiting, decreased appetite, coughing, weight loss, and asthma-like symptoms in your feline.

How Can You Prevent Heartworm Disease?

The best way to avoid heartworm disease is with annual testing and preventative medication from your veterinarian. Early detection and professional treatment will improve a dog’s chances of recovery, although the further the disease has progressed, the more pet health may decline. There is no approved treatment for cats, so only rigorous preventative care can protect them.

 

Keeping up with preventative care from Waipahu Waikele Pet Hospital will allow your pet to stay heartworm-free. The veterinary hospital has provided the pets of Oahu with comprehensive services like dentistry, dermatology, surgery, and boarding for over 47 years. To schedule an appointment, call (808) 671-7387 today. Visit their website to learn more about their pet health services.

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