Heartworms in a canine heart. With warmer weather comes the increase in the number of flying insects, among them mosquitos. Living in the South means these pesky insects enjoy feeding on everyone and everything that ventures outside. This should strike fear in every dog owner because mosquitos and heartworms go together. You might wonder, how do mosquitoes transmit heartworms? How can you stop it?
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are adult worms that live in the right side of the heart and the neighboring blood vessels in dogs. Although dogs are the host of choice, heartworms have also been found in cats and ferrets. In an infected animal, the heartworms reach maturity and produce microfilaria that are released into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, mosquitos ingest microfilaria when they take a blood meal and then transmit the microfilaria to another host, such as a dog or cat. The microfilaria grow and change for six months in the host until they reach maturity in the heart and repeat the cycle.
The Life cycle of Dirofilaria immitis:
The Life cycle of Dirofilaria immitis:
Heartworm disease is detected through a blood test, routinely done by your Veterinarian. The signs of the disease are coughing, exercise intolerance, and weight loss. While there is treatment available to eliminate adult worms from the heart, the focus of this blog is prevention. Prevention methods usually involve a pill or a topical medication given monthly.
No matter which prevention method you choose for your pet, they both work by killing the L3 and L4 larvae found in the body. Preventions do not kill mosquitoes nor do they prevent the larvae from entering the body. When the prevention is given monthly, the medication kills the larvae that have been in the body for the past 30 days (Petmd.com), which means the medication does not stay in your dog’s system for the whole 30 days. This is why it is so important to give your dog medication every month. If more than 30 days lapses between doses, the prevention cannot kill the immature or mature adult heartworms and your dog is at a high risk of getting heartworm disease. For this reason, the National Heartworm Society recommends Heartworm preventions should be given every month, year around no matter where you live.
No matter which prevention method you choose for your pet, they both work by killing the L3 and L4 larvae found in the body. Preventions do not kill mosquitoes nor do they prevent the larvae from entering the body. When the prevention is given monthly, the medication kills the larvae that have been in the body for the past 30 days (Petmd.com), which means the medication does not stay in your dog’s system for the whole 30 days. This is why it is so important to give your dog medication every month. If more than 30 days lapses between doses, the prevention cannot kill the immature or mature adult heartworms and your dog is at a high risk of getting heartworm disease. For this reason, the National Heartworm Society recommends Heartworm preventions should be given every month, year around no matter where you live.
Below are some examples of heartworm preventions so ask your Veterinarian which medication is most suited for your pet.
Prohart-6 is an injection that your dog gets every six months under the skin to prevent heartworms. It is very convenient; you do not have to worry that you may skip a dose or your pet spitting out the pill.
Prohart-6 is an injection that your dog gets every six months under the skin to prevent heartworms. It is very convenient; you do not have to worry that you may skip a dose or your pet spitting out the pill.
Trifexis is a chew tablet taken by mouth and helps prevent heartworms, intestinal worms and fleas. The nice thing about Trifexis is that you do not have to worry about giving multiple medications or washing off topical medication for fleas.
Heartgard is a big beefy chew that pets love to take monthly. It is sold in a 12 month supply and only prevents heartworms and intestinal parasites.
Advantage Multi is a topical heartworm prevention that also takes care of fleas. The nice thing about this product is that you do not have to worry about your pet swallowing a pill. The medication is applied on the skin between the shoulder blades.
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