Heartworm disease is pretty much what it sounds like- worms that grow in the heart of their host. Obviously, this is not the ideal scenario. No one wants to play host to an unwelcome parasite.
In Indiana, though, heartworms are a real risk for our pets. Thankfully, the team at Northside Paws has you covered when it comes to effective prevention of this devastating disease. April is Heartworm Awareness month, and we want to be sure that you know everything you need to know about heartworm disease, this month and every month thereafter.
What are Heartworms Anyways?
Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. This worm is transmitted by mosquitoes and has been identified in all 50 states. The mosquito, after taking a blood meal from an infected animal, transmits the immature stage of the heartworm called microfilaria to its next host. Once the microfilaria make it to their new residence they mature, making a cozy home in the heart, lungs, and nearby blood vessels. They can become up to a foot long over time!
Dogs are the natural host for heartworms and we most often diagnose them in canines. In fact, we know that populations of coyotes and fox can increase risk in urban areas. Any mammal can be affected, though. We do know cats and ferrets are also at significant risk.
Early in the course of infection there are typically no symptoms that heartworms have decided to make your pet their new address. As they mature over the course of several years, though, they can lead to symptoms including:
- Mild cough (early in disease process)
- Decreased willingness to exercise
- Easy to fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Congestive heart failure
Cats are less tolerant of heartworms and may have more dramatic symptoms including sudden death.
How Can I Protect My Pet From Heartworm Disease?
While heartworm disease can be a scary topic to read about, it is important to note that with good preventative care, the risk is minimal. While we can’t get rid of all the mosquitoes in Indiana, we have some safe and very effective ways to stop heartworm disease in its tracks.
Consistent prescription heartworm preventions are upwards of 98% effective at killing microfilaria before they can mature into adult heartworms. There are many good products on the market. For most of our patients, we recommend:
- Proheart 12 (an injectable prevention given once annually for dogs by our professional staff)
- Simparica TRIO (a monthly chew that protects dogs against heartworms, fleas, and ticks)
- Interceptor Plus (a monthly chew that protects dogs against heartworms)
- Revolution Plus (a topical prevention for cats that protects against heartworms, fleas, and ticks)
Of course no one product is best for every pet. Unfortunately at this time there are no known natural ways to effectively prevent heartworm disease. We are happy to discuss and provide other options as indicated.
Heartworm testing is also an important part of the equation. Because no prevention is 100% it is important to screen periodically to make sure that we are catching any breaks as soon as possible. It takes about 6 months from the time a pet is infected until a test shows positive.
Because of this, we recommend an annual blood test in dogs, starting at seven months of age if they have not previously been on prevention or at about a year from starting a preventative program. We start puppies on prevention at their initial visit to stay safe!
We also recommend testing for heartworm disease six months from any lapse in prevention.
Cats like to be a little more difficult and testing is not as straightforward for them. We do not routinely screen for heartworms in cats as testing is not as reliable. Prevention is key for kitties as we do not have good treatment options for them should an infection be detected.
If we do identify heartworm disease is a canine patient, we are able to treat the with a series of injections. This can be expensive, difficult on the patient, and does not reverse damage done to the heart and blood vessels. Prevention is important!
Contact us if you have questions about how to protect your pet or find out if your furry family is up to date on prevention. We can’t prevent every pet health problem, but we can put a significant dent in this one.
