Heartworm Prevention and Your Pet

Heartworms: Why Worry?

Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in all fifty states and does not spare indoor-only pets. Last year, over 244,000 dogs were infected with life-threatening heartworm disease. If your dog becomes infected, the treatment can get very expensive and involves multiple office visits and blood tests. Cats can get heartworm too, but unlike their canine counterparts their disease is not treatable.    

But, heartworms are preventable. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends that all pets be placed on year-round preventative medication, regardless of indoor status and region of the country

Heartworms are spread when an infected mosquito bites your pet and injects microscopic larvae into her bloodstream. These tiny worms grow up to be adult worms as large as 16 inches long in dogs.

How Does Heartworm Prevention Medication Work?

Heartworm preventatives kill the developing larvae before they get a chance to mature. These medications are deadly for heartworms, but safe for our pets and for us to be around. If you have concerns about a particular drug, visit the manufacturer’s website and ask your veterinarian to review it for you.

Talk to your veterinarian regarding which medication, such as Heartgard or Milbemax  is best for your pet. 

The American Heartworm Society recommends that dogs should be tested for heartworm infection prior to starting or changing a preventative medication. This is a simple blood test performed at your veterinarian’s office. Thereafter, your dog should be tested annually.

Choosing Heartworm Medication

Some products are available over-the-counter while others are prescription-only.  Your veterinarian’s office is the safest place to purchase heartworm medications because they are less likely to be counterfeit or expired and repackaged. If you decide to purchase them online, make sure that the site is reputable, accredited, and legal. Licensed sites will ask you for a prescription for RX heartworm medication.

If you’re going with a pet supply store, never assume that a product must be safe because it is on a shelf in a store. Get your veterinarian’s opinion of that particular product prior to purchasing and find out which of these he or she would avoid.

Always follow the label instructions and your veterinarian’s advice regarding proper usage. If you notice your pet acting strange following administration, call your veterinarian immediately.