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Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm that affects pets—mainly dogs and cats. You should know what to look for, so you can bring an infected pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Below is a guide to help you understand this condition and assist your furry friend.

What Is Heartworm?

Heartworm disease begins when an infected mosquito bites your dog. Therefore, prevention is challenging since you can’t quickly tell if a mosquito is carrying the parasite.

You can find this disease in any climate, and it only takes one bite for the larvae to implant in the animal. After about seven months, the larvae mature and nest themselves in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, where they reproduce.

Adult heartworms can live up to seven years and can grow as long as 12 inches. Since it is specific to dogs, cats, ferrets, and a few other animals, it rarely gets passed to people. Animals also cannot give the parasite to other animals.

How Is It Treated?

If left untreated, heartworms are painful and even fatal for pets. The difficult part is that you may not notice symptoms at first, but as the worms reproduce, your pet will cough and show fatigue during exercise. Some may even faint or retain fluids.

veterinarianPet care clinics will look at x-rays, blood work, and other tests to determine the severity of the illness. After a diagnosis, veterinarians will begin with medicinal injections to kill heartworms.

After the treatment, dogs must stay quiet and calm for several months. They should also refrain from exercise. As the worms die off, their remains can block blood vessels, causing severe issues during intense activity.

There are a few preventive measures to reduce your dog’s chances of contracting heartworms. Veterinarians can prescribe monthly pills and topical creams to stop bites from occurring. There is also a six-month injection. Prioritize year-round prevention, as dogs can be reinfected.

 

For pet owners in Versailles, KY, Buffalo Trace Veterinary Services is the pet care facility to trust for everything from pet vaccines and routine appointments to severe illnesses. The family-owned veterinarian provides comprehensive and affordable services so that your pet can be happy and healthy. They also offer preventive medicines for diseases such as heartworm. For an appointment, call (859) 879-3582. Visit them online for information on their services.

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