An ounce of prevention really can save your pet’s life when it comes to this parasite. The heartworm is one diagnosis no pet owner wants to hear, and far too many dogs in shelters and rescues are suffering from. Not only is it an incredibly dangerous organism that causes serious damage to your dog or cat’s body, but it is also preventable.
Heartworms are transmitted through mosquito bites. The mosquito can bite one infected animal then bite your pet, thus infected them, too. Your pet can be tested for heartworms through a regular blood test. Your dog or cat just gets a small amount of blood taken by a veterinarian and tested for heartworm larvae. These tiny worms live in the animal’s blood stream until they mature. As adults, they travel to the heart which is when the problem becomes more complicated.
Dogs – Prevention and Treatment
In the beginning of a heartworm infection, your dog may show no signs at all. This is why it is important to get yearly heartworm tests so that you can catch the condition and treat it before it gets worse. However, dogs who have been infected for longer may begin to cough, avoid exercise or play, show fatigue quickly and lose weight.
Once the parasite has been found in your pet’s blood, a treatment plan will be created with you and your veterinarian. If your dog is having any other health conditions, he needs to be fully stabilized before beginning the treatment. Restricted activity, which can be very difficult for many owners and their pets, is a must. This requirement will begin before any drugs are administered to rid your pet of the heartworms. The reason for this is exercise and exertion will quicken the damage to your pet as his blood more quickly pumps worms to his organs and heart.
Heartworm prevention is simple. There are choices, both natural and conventional that should be discussed with your veterinarian of choice. Most commonly, a monthly flavored tablet that dogs love is given. This does not necessarily prevent heartworms all together, but rather kills any in the blood stream on a monthly basis, preventing them from becoming adults and making their way to the heart and organs. Natural choices are more controversial as they rely more on keeping mosquitoes at bay, stopping a bite from happening to begin with. Your location, weather and activity level will all play a part in deciding what is best for you and your pooch.
Cats – Prevention and Treatment
Detecting heartworms in cats from the owner’s point of view can be difficult. As cats are naturally reclusive, independent animals and if they are lethargic or show a loss of appetite many owners may not notice. On the other hand, with some individual felines the symptoms may be obvious and very dramatic. Fluid in the abdomen, trouble walking and seizures are all common symptoms of kitties with heartworms.
Testing for heartworms in cats can be difficult, and may require more than just a blood test. An ultrasound and x-ray may be required so your veterinarian can look for heartworms visually. Luckily, cats are much less likely to get heartworms. However, they should still be tested as your veterinarian suggests for your individual animal, and tested before being put on any prevention.
Unfortunately, there are no drugs to help rid a cat of the parasite as dogs have. The drug used for curing dogs simply is not safe for cats. Instead, general nursing care and sometimes hospitalization is needed to stabilize your infected cat so that he may receive help for all the symptoms he is enduring.
Prevention Is The Best Cure
Both dogs and cats can die from the damage cause in their hearts by heartworm disease if left untreated. You can prevent the possibility of pain and death in your pet using a simple monthly medication. Treatment for dogs is costly and can be dangerous, as the drug used can also cause damage to his body. The lack of treatment for cats makes the disease far more dangerous for your feline friend. Don’t put your pet or your wallet through treatment and nursing care, prevent it!