Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal, infectious illness transmitted to pets by infected mosquitoes. Since many pet owners associate mosquitoes with summer, they don’t often think heartworm prevention for their pets is necessary throughout the year. April is recognized as National Heartworm Awareness Month, reminding pet owners to prioritize prevention and education about this silent yet dangerous threat to their furry companions. The Pony Express Veterinary Hospital team explains heartworm disease and why prevention can protect your pet from this potentially deadly infection.

Heartworm disease pet protection basics 

Caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, heartworm disease affects pets’ hearts, lungs, and blood vessels. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, typically wildlife, the insect ingests microscopic baby heartworms, microfilariae, while taking a blood meal. Microfilariae mature within the mosquito in one to two weeks, becoming infective larvae. Subsequently, when the infected mosquito bites another animal, the insect transfers these larvae into the new host’s bloodstream, where they develop into adult heartworms over several months, eventually residing in the heart and pulmonary arteries.

More than a million dogs and cats are infected with heartworm disease each year. This illness can lead to severe organ complications, heart failure, and sometimes death if left untreated. Awareness and action are necessary to stop heartworm disease’s spread and mitigate the chances that this perilous parasite can harm your four-legged friend.

Does my pet have heartworm disease?

The best way to tell if your pet is heartworm positive is to have them tested at The Pony Express Veterinary Hospital. We recommend annual testing for cats and dogs because heartworm disease is often a subtle killer. Pets rarely exhibit signs until the disease is fully established. Dogs’ common heartworm disease signs include:

  • Soft, dry cough
  • Lethargy
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Weight loss
  • Appetite loss
  • Difficulty breathing

Cats infected with heartworm disease may show similar signs such as vomiting, gagging, and sudden collapse. However, cats are more resistant hosts to heartworms, and signs can be subtler or mimic other feline respiratory conditions, making diagnosis challenging. Cats infected with heartworms often have asthmatic or allergic reactions, which may be confused with other respiratory conditions.

Can heartworm disease in pets be treated?

Heartworm disease treatment is available, but it is not always successful. Treating heartworm in pets is a challenging, sometimes costly process that involves managing the secondary health conditions that the disease causes while using medication to kill adult heartworms. Surgical worm extraction is often necessary to save an infected pet. Therefore, prevention remains the cornerstone of managing heartworm disease and safeguarding pets’ health and well-being.

Keeping your pet safe from heartworm disease

Preventing heartworm disease is significantly more manageable and cost-effective than treating an infected pet. To safeguard your pet from heartworm disease, follow these tips:

  • Keep your pet on heartworm prevention — Our veterinarian can prescribe heartworm prevention medications after your pet has been screened for the disease. These medications come in oral, topical, or injectable forms and work by killing heartworm larvae before they mature. Most medications should be given monthly, and many pets enjoy chewable tablets because they are flavorful, just like a pet treat. 
  • Maintain heartworm prevention year-round — Mosquitoes never entirely go dormant, so treat heartworm disease as a year-round threat. If you skip a month, your pet is at risk for contracting heartworm disease. Additionally, if you accidentally forget a month of your pet’s medication, they will need to be screened again before restarting their preventive. So, maintaining your pet’s monthly prevention is far easier and less costly than treating heartworm disease.
  • Screen for heartworm disease each year — At your pet’s annual wellness exam, we ensure your four-legged friend is heartworm-free through antigen testing. Even if your pet is on a preventive, you need to have them tested because early disease detection helps create a better prognosis for your furry pal, should they test positive for heartworm disease.
  • Minimize your pet’s mosquito exposure — Cut down weeds, tall grasses, and overgrown shrubs to make your yard less hospitable to pests. Dump out standing water in bird baths, water features, and unused pools where mosquitoes reproduce. Avoid taking your pet outdoors during prime mosquito activity times such as dawn and dusk.

Heartworm disease affects pets of all ages and breeds and can have unfortunate consequences. Through proactive prevention, regular veterinary care, and awareness, you can significantly reduce your furry pal’s heartworm disease risk and safeguard their health. By working with The Pony Express Veterinary Hospital team, you can create a safer and healthier environment for your pet. Call us to schedule your pet’s heartworm screening and get them started on effective heartworm prevention.