Heartworm Disease
A Message to Take to Heart!
While the risk of infection in dogs varies from one region of the country to another and even from one community to another, one fact remains: heartworm disease is a threat to unprotected dogs in every state except Alaska.
Unprotected dogs, foxes, coyotes, and wolves act as reservoirs, or sources, for the spread of this serious disease. The relocation of dogs, as with humanitarian efforts following natural disasters, can introduce heartworm disease to nonendemic parts of the country. Alternately, unprotected dogs traveling with owners to high-incidence areas will be at risk for exposure.
Since heartworm disease is a complicated illness, the best approach is prevention. This article highlights many general aspects of heartworm disease but cannot address every detail. Please visit the website of the American Heartworm Society (www.heartwormsociety.org) for more in-depth information regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heartworm disease.
What is Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease develops when a dog or cat is bitten by a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae (juvenile worms) of a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. As a mosquito feeds, these microscopic larvae are deposited on the dog and quickly penetrate the skin to begin their migration into the pet’s bloodstream. Adult heartworms can grow 10 to 12 inches in length and make their home in the right side of the heart and pulmonary (lung) arteries, often causing lung disease and heart failure.
How Can I prevent Heartworm Disease in my Pet?
Heartworm preventives are effective when administered properly and on a timely schedule. It is important to note that these medications are quickly eliminated from a dog or cat’s body shortly after they are used and do not continue to protect your pet from future infection. Instead, they eliminate infections acquired since the last dose. All approved heartworm preventives are highly effective, safe, easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and often provide treatment for additional parasites. Prevention is always more safe and affordable than treating pets with adult heartworm infections.
Please remember, it is your responsibility to faithfully maintain the program you have selected in consultation with your veterinarian. The best way to eliminate the risk of heartworm infection in your dog or cat is to institute a year-round prevention program.
Be certain to have all pets tested prior to initiating or restarting any heartworm prevention program, as administration of some preventives can cause life-threatening reactions when given to heartworm-infected pets.
More Information on Heartworm Disease
Feline Heartworm DiseaseHeartworm Treatment
Diagnosis of Heartworms
American Heartworm Society
