Heartworm prevention for dogs and cats is a yearly battle that pet owners need to be aware of. Since we have a longer mosquito season than other parts of the country, there are many more opportunities for dogs and cats to be infected by a bite. Here is some information about heartworm prevention for dogs and cats, and how Sea Oats Animal Hospital in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL can help.
What Causes Heartworms?
Heartworms are spread to dogs and cats primarily by mosquito bites. They can also be spread from animal to animal, once one pet has been severely infected with heartworms. This type of worm primarily grows in the heart (hence, the name), but can also spread to the lungs and other internal organs.
Dogs are a natural host for heartworms. This means that if a dog is infected with baby heartworm from a mosquito bite, those worms can grow up to adulthood, reproduce, and infect the pet with even more worms throughout their internal organs. This can be a terrible outcome for a dog, greatly reducing their quality of life and lifespan.
Cats are atypical hosts for heartworms. These worms usually don’t survive to adulthood in cats, but can cause respiratory disease.
Symptoms of Heartworms
The main symptoms of heartworm in dogs are:
- Weight loss
- Reduced appetite
- A constant, dry cough
Cats do not show very many symptoms from heartworms. Many pets — both dogs and cats — do tend to become less active and are less likely to take part in as many physical activities or play.
Heartworm Prevention for Dogs & Cats
There are over-the-counter chewable heartworm prevention medications available for both dogs and cats. These should be administered once per month because they help prevent heartworms from maturing in your pet’s body if they do happen to become infected.
Once a dog becomes infected with heartworm, there is one approved medication that your veterinarian can prescribe to help them recover. Note that any organ damage caused by heartworm is typically permanent. But the treatment will eliminate existing heartworms, so the problem can’t proliferate.
There is no treatment for heartworm in cats. Therefore, the best way to protect pet cats from heartworm is to make sure they are never infected in the first place, by administering monthly preventive medicines.
Call Us about Heartworm Prevention for Dogs and Cats
Our doctor tests for heartworm in canines during annual checkups, and we can test your cat for heartworm and other parasites as well. If you’d like to schedule a checkup, call our office in Ponte Vedra, FL today.
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