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April 2006
April 19, 2006
Protecting Your Pet from Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease can be deadly to either your dog or cat.
The life cycle of the heartworm begins when a mosquito
bites an infected animal. The mosquito takes in tiny
immature heartworms (called microfilariae) when it feeds.
During the next two to three weeks, the larvae develop
within the mosquito into the infective stage. When the
mosquito feeds again, it can transmit infective larvae to a
healthy dog or cat. The larvae penetrate the dog's skin,
migrating through the tissues and developing over the next
few months, eventually reaching the animal’s heart. Once in
the animal’s heart, the worms grow, causing significant
damage to the heart, lungs and other vital organs.
All animals are at risk , and if left untreated, heartworm
disease can result in death. Some pet owners may think
their pet is safe because the animal lives indoors, but as
we all know, mosquitoes do come inside. Pet owners may
also think that they don’t live in a region where their pet
is at risk of heartworms, however, now that so many people
are traveling across the country with their pets, no state
is entirely heartworm-free.
Heartworm disease isn’t just a problem that affects dogs.
In fact, when it comes to heartworm disease, dogs and cats
have a lot in common, and new research shows that in cats
there is the potential for more severe reactions and even
sudden death.
The only way to know for sure whether your pet is infected
with heartworm disease is to have your veterinarian conduct
an examination and test. If your pet gets heartworm
disease, treatment can be dangerous for him and expensive
for you – but the good news is that prevention is easy,
convenient, and in comparison to treatment, very
affordable. Ask your veterinarian about heartworm
prevention options available to you.
In addition to protecting your pet from heartworm disease,
there are some other things you should be aware of, since
spring brings its own set of health concerns for your pet.
• Be sure to start grooming daily for tick removal as part
of prevention of various diseases, such as Lyme disease,
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and others.
• Also check to be sure your yard is cleared of accumulated
animal waste, since this can be a source of internal
parasites.
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