MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association wants to remind pet owners to protect their pets against heartworm disease. Pets are susceptible to heartworms all year round in Alabama. To prevent infection, it is important to continually keep your pet on heartworm preventative medication.
“Whether your pet is an indoor or outdoor pet, all pets are at risk for heartworm disease,” says ALVMA President William Bledsoe, DVM. “Heartworm disease can be fatal if left untreated, but it can easily be prevented with regular medication.”
According to the American Heartworm Society, heartworms are more prevalent in dogs than cats. They are transferred through mosquito bites, which deposit the larvae into the bloodstream of the dog and the worms eventually migrate to the heart and lungs, which usually takes about three months. Depending on the size of the dog, as many as 30 or more heartworms can live in a dog’s heart for up to seven years, some reaching a length of a foot long. Virtually 100 percent of dogs exposed to infective larvae become infected. The key to preventing heartworms is to be proactive and administer medication to reduce the chance of your pet developing heartworms. Heartworm preventative is almost 100 percent effective and also has added benefits as it protects your pets from other parasites like roundworms, whipworms and hookworms. This is important because these parasites can also be harmful to people, especially children. There is no effective treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so it is imperative that disease prevention measures be taken for cats.
While there is treatment for heartworm infected dogs, it is somewhat expensive and can take several weeks for your pet to recover. Treatment cost depends on several factors including the dog’s size, stage of heartworm advancement and which method you use for treatment. Signs of heartworm disease include a persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise, fatigue after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss. It is difficult to see symptoms in recently infected dogs, so a blood test at your veterinarian’s office is necessary to determine if your pet is heartworm positive. This blood test should be done annually as part of your healthy pet checkup.
The good news is heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive. There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection in both dogs and cats, including daily and monthly tablets and chewables, monthly topicals and a six-month injectable product (available only for dogs). All of these methods are extremely effective, and when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be completely prevented. These medications interrupt heartworm development before adult worms reach the lungs and heart and cause disease. It is critical to keep your pet on heartworm prevention medication to ensure they remain healthy and free from infection. If you miss a dose, contact your local veterinarian immediately for guidance. For additional information on heartworms visit the American Heartworm Society’s website at www.heartwormsociety.org.
Founded in 1907, The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association is comprised of approximately 725 veterinarians from around the state, all committed to protecting People, Pets and Livestock – Yesterday, Today and Always.
