April is Nationwide Heartworm Consciousness Month

Do you know… it solely takes one chunk from an contaminated mosquito to unfold Heartworm illness to your pet?

Heartworm illness is a severe and probably deadly sickness for cats, canines, and ferrets, in addition to different mammals. It’s brought on by foot-long worms (heartworms) that stay within the coronary heart, lungs, and blood vessels of affected animals. Heartworm could lead to lung illness, coronary heart failure, or different organ injury.

Though this sounds scary (it’s!), Heartworm illness will be averted altogether with the mandatory preventative measures.

Defend your pet by studying these 6 FAQs about Heartworm:

1. How can Heartworm illness unfold to my pet? Heartworm illness is unfold by mosquitoes carrying the parasite Dirofilaria Immitis. When an contaminated mosquito bites a cat, canine, ferret, or different mammal, larvae are transmitted into the bloodstream and finally settle within the coronary heart, arteries, blood vessels, and lungs after a interval of months.
2. Which pets are in danger? Any pet in an space with mosquitos is in danger for Heartworm illness.
3. What signs ought to I search for? Indicators of Heartworm illness will be very delicate or very extreme relying on the case. Signs could embody persistent cough, problem respiration, fatigue, decreased urge for food, vomiting, and weight reduction. Because the illness progresses, an animal could expertise fainting, seizures, problem strolling, or fluid accumulation within the stomach. Kittens, puppies, and senior pets face the very best danger of growing the extra extreme signs.
4. How is Heartworm illness recognized? It takes roughly 6 months after being bitten by an contaminated mosquito to your pet to check optimistic for Heartworm. A veterinarian could make a analysis by doing a bodily examination and working blood exams.
5. Is Heartworm illness treatable? For canines within the US, there may be therapy out there. Sadly for cats within the US, there may be at present no authorised therapy. The excellent news, nonetheless, is that many Heartworm-infected cats are capable of combat the an infection themselves and will be monitored each few months, whereas ready out the worms’ lifespan. Medicines may also be given to assist alleviate some signs, resembling coughing and vomiting.
6. How can I stop my pet from contracting Heartworm illness? There are a number of FDA-approved medicines* in the marketplace out there for each cats and canines. Your pet ought to start a heartworm preventative round 8 weeks of age, which ought to be taken year-round. Canine ought to be examined for Heartworm each 12 months and common check-ups for all pets are key to early detection.