Heartworm Prevention
The first step to heartworm prevention is to administer a heartworm parasite test to ensure your pet is free from any existing heartworms. Preventative treatment can be harmful - or even fatal - to dogs who have a current heartworm infection; therefore, it is essential to complete this blood test before beginning a preventative program. Once adult heartworms have been ruled out, your pet can begin to receive monthly treatment to avoid future infestations.
Heartworm preventatives work by destroying the immature or larval stage of the parasite. It only takes a few months for a larvae to mature into an adult heartworm – once this has occurred, treatment becomes more complex.
Heartworms are parasites that are transmitted through mosquitoes and are commonly found throughout the United States. When a mosquito feeds, they inject a larval stage of the parasite into the dog or cat’s blood stream. Within a few months’ time, the larvae will mature into adult heartworms and can grow in size up to several inches long. These adult parasites live in your pet’s pulmonary arteries and heart muscle, and can block the normal flow of blood – therefore straining your pet’s heart. They can also cause damage to the lining of your pet’s blood vessels – giving rise to blood clots that can cut off circulation to their lungs.
If your dog is diagnosed with adult-stage heartworms, they should be treated with an “adulticide” injection to remove the parasite. It is important to treat your dog as soon as possible to prevent further infestation.
Cats diagnosed with heartworm disease are not typically treated the way dogs are, because the “adulticide” used for dogs can be dangerous to cats. As high as 20 –30% of heartworm-infected cats would die during such a treatment. Instead, cats should immediately be placed on a monthly preventative and should be watched closely at home. Emergency treatment should be sought if your cat begins to have difficulty breathing, but cats are naturally more able to clear heartworm disease on their own than dogs.
Heartworm Symptoms in Dogs and Cats
Cats typically present with only one or two adult heartworms, but this number is still a substantial burden for a cat and should be treated. Heartworms die sooner when hosted inside a cat than in a dog – and cats also appear to be more resistant to heartworms, but symptoms in both types of pets should be taken seriously.
There may be no visible signs of infection for dogs presenting with small numbers of heartworms, but more heavily infected dogs will tire easily when exercising and may cough. With serious infections, weight loss may occur and fluid may accumulate in your pet’s abdomen due to congestive heart failure.
In cats symptoms may include coughing or vomiting and sudden, critical difficulty in breathing as a result of a blood clot to part of their lungs. These symptoms present in the same manner as asthma in cats, so it is important to consider and test for heartworms when these issues occur.
Symptoms that occur after an adulticide treatment may indicate a problem and need for a recheck.
Heartworm Preventions Dos and Don’ts
DOs
- Begin a heartworm preventative program and maintain regular treatments, as recommended by your veterinarian. Heartworm preventatives given on a monthly basis are more than 99% effective.
- If your dog has been diagnosed and treated for adult-stage heartworms, keep him or her confined and do not allow exercise for 4-6 weeks after treatment. When not confided, you should keep your dog on a leash. Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog begins coughing or if he/she does not seem well.
- Understand that dogs with heartworm disease generally do not display symptoms – so it is important not to wait until you see symptoms to begin a Heartworm Preventative Program.
DON’Ts
- Don’t stop heartworm prevention during the winter unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian. Warmer climates require year-round prevention measures.
- Don’t assume that your pet is safe from mosquitoes because they have a long coat or because you keep them indoors. Many long-haired dogs and cats become infected with heartworms, and approximately 1/3 of cats with heartworm disease are reported as living 100% indoors.
- Don’t assume a cat is coughing due to asthma. Many cats that were formerly thought to have asthma have been found to have heartworms instead. The symptoms for both are identical, but blood testing and x-rays/ultrasound can help determine a proper diagnosis.
When to call your Veterinarian
Call Your Veterinarian
-If your dog or cat with heartworm disease has sudden severe breathing difficulty. This is an emergency.
- After “adult-stage” treatment for heartworms, if your dog starts to cough or stops eating.
Routine Follow-Up
- Dogs should be re-tested for heartworms approximately 3 - 4 months after their treatment. Occasionally, a second treatment may be needed to kill all the worms.
- Healthy dogs on a Heartworm Prevention Program should be tested for heartworms annually.
Did you know that NOVA Pets Health Center offers FREE heartworm injections for dogs – just schedule an appointment to begin your canine friend’s heartworm prevention.
For more information, on heartworm disease, please visit: www.heartwormsociety.org.
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