Heartworms are one of the most serious health threats your pet faces. In honor of Heartworm Prevention Month this March, take the time to learn more about this condition. To protect your dog or cat, you should also schedule a heartworm test with their veterinarian and make healthy changes at home to ensure your pet isn’t at risk.

Understanding Heartworms

What Are They?

Heartworms are a parasite spread through mosquito bites. When your dog is infected, the worms will begin breeding inside of them, specifically in the lungs, heart, and blood vessels. As the offspring mature, they can inflame parts of the cardiovascular system, resulting in organ damage, heart failure, and other significant health issues.

Heartworms are different for cats and dogs. The average dog hosts 15, though hundreds can mature in their body. Most infected cats host one to three and the heartworms won’t reach adulthood.

Immature heartworms can still cause respiratory problems and the heartworm medication used on dogs isn’t effective in cats.

What Are the Symptoms?

Heartworms can develop unnoticed for some time. At first, your dog may begin coughing or become fatigued faster. They may lose their appetite often and show rapid weight loss. These will worsen with time, but it’s not until organ failure or significant cardiovascular blockages that many cases are caught at home.

Is It Treatable?

Heartworm testing should be a regular part of your pet’s annual health regimen. Their veterinarian will take a small blood sample and check your pet’s proteins for signs of heartworms.

If your pet tests positive, the veterinarian will want your dog to reduce exercise and playtime. Rest will slow the damage heartworms cause to the lungs and heart.

They’ll provide medication and injections to kill juvenile heartworms. In severe cases, they may remove heartworms through surgery. The sooner heartworms are caught, the easier the treatment, and the better the outcome.

Prevention

Speak with your pet’s veterinarian about heartworm outbreaks in your area so you can protect your pet. They can provide monthly heartworm preventive medication or injections every 6 or 12 months.

Start Heartworm Prevention Month by scheduling a trip to the veterinarian. The team at Wachal Pet Health Center makes preventive care a priority for their patients. Drs. Mark and Jane Wachal are committed to keeping Lincoln, NE, pets healthy and offer a wide scope of services ranging from emergency vet care to teeth cleaning and grooming. Visit their website to learn more about the practice and call (402) 477-7877 to speak with a representative.