As veterinary care providers, one of the most difficult diagnoses we must make is one for heartworms, a highly preventable disease that can be fatal in pets – particularly dogs. In honor of Heartworm Awareness Month, we are supporting the American Heartworm Society’s efforts to sound the alarm on heartworm dangers and the importance of testing and prevention.
Heartworms are parasitic worms that infect a pet’s tissues, bloodstream, and eventually the heart. They start off as larvae that slowly grow into mature worms up to 14 inches long. They are transmitted when mosquitoes bite an infected animal and then transmit the larvae to another animal. Within months, the larvae grow into adults that are capable of reproducing. Naturally, heartworms are more prevalent in areas with higher populations of mosquitoes. As a part of the Midwest, we here in Columbus see higher rates of heartworms than pet owners in many other areas of the country.
Steps to Preventing Heartworms
Heartworms can live in their host for several years, causing breathing problems, vomiting, poor appetite and even heart failure. Unfortunately, many of these symptoms do not appear until the infection has reached advanced stages. That is why we are raising awareness about the importance of heartworm screening and prevention for all dogs.
Prevention is easy and affordable, consisting of a preventative medication administered once per month year round. A preventative heartworm medication is effective in eliminating early stage infections, when larvae are introduced to a pet’s tissues. Screening is also important, as early detection improves the chances of a positive outcome. Your veterinarian can detect the presence of heartworms with a diagnostic imaging scan and a simple blood test. If positive, heartworms can be treated, though the infection is easiest to treat in the early stages of infection.
Has your pet ever been screened for heartworms? Do you currently use a heartworm preventive medication?