When it comes to heartworm disease, our Thomasville vets believe that prevention is key. For dogs and cats in Davidson County, heartworm disease results in lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and death. Here is why prevention of this serious condition is far better than treatment.
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is a very serious condition that is caused by a parasitic worm called dirofilaria immitis which is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Heartworms get their name from the fact that they live within a host animal's heart, lungs and blood vessels.
If infected, your pet becomes a definitive host, meaning that the parasite matures, mates and reproduces while living within your dog, or cat.
Symptoms of Heartworm Disease
Symptoms of heartworm disease include weight loss, a swollen abdomen, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. That said, symptoms of heartworm disease typically don’t show up until the disease has progressed severely, and your pet has become very ill.
Testing for Heartworm Disease
Blood tests for heartworm disease can be done by your Thomasville vet before symptoms appear. This blood test gives your vet an opportunity to detect proteins, called antigens, which are released by the heartworms into the pet's bloodstream.
The earliest that your vet will be able to detect heartworm proteins in your pet's blood is about 5 months after the infection has occurred.
Treatment of Heartworm Disease
There are treatments available if your pet is diagnosed with heartworm disease, but these treatments are potentially toxic to your pet's body, may cause serious complications, and can become very expensive.
Melarsomine dihydrochloride is an arsenic-containing drug that is FDA approved to kill adult heartworms in dogs, and topical FDA approved solutions are available to get rid of parasites found in your pet's bloodstream. Heartworm treatment will also require multiple visits to the vet, bloodwork, x-rays, and hospitalization.
Heartworm Disease Prevention
The absolute best way to keep your pet safe from heartworm disease is to keep them on prevention medication, available from your vet.
Our Thomasville vets also recommend testing dogs annually for heartworm disease, even if they are regularly taking heartworm prevention medications.
Preventing heartworm is safe, easy, and much more affordable than treating the progressed disease! Another bonus to heartworm prevention is that some of the preventive medications also help protect your dog from other parasites such as hookworms, whipworms and roundworms.
Heartworm Prevention is part of our annual Wellness Plans. Choose the Wellness Plan that's right for your pet.
Looking for a vet in the Thomasville area?
We're always accepting new patients, so contact our veterinary hospital today to book your pet's first appointment.
Related Articles View All
How To Care For an Elderly Dog
Older pets benefit from a little extra attention to their health throughout their senior years. If your pup has surpassed middle age, follow these tips from our Davidson County vets to help keep your old dog comfortable and happy as they continue to age.
4 Ways Pet Wellness Plans Benefit Pets & Pet Owners
Wondering if a Pet Wellness Plan for your dog or cat is a good investment? Today, our Davidson County vets explain how Wellness Plans at Thomasville Veterinary Hospital can benefit pet owners as well as their four-legged friends.
Tips On How To Avoid Dog Bites When Grooming
Attempting to groom an aggressive dog can be a real challenge not to mention scary. Today, our Davidson County vets explain why some dogs become aggressive at grooming time and share tips to help make grooming sessions less stressful for you and your pooch.
How long can I leave my dog alone?
At some point, every pet parent will need to leave their dog alone while they head out to run errands, earn a living or spend time with friends. But how long can you safely leave your dog alone? Our Davidson County vets explain.
Food For Dogs with Heart Disease
If your dog has been diagnosed with heart disease, our Davidson County vets can recommend ways of managing the condition - in part through modified nutrition. Here are a few tips on how and why to feed your dog a low-sodium diet to help treat heart disease.