Is Heartworm Disease a Threat to my Pet?

Is Heartworm Disease Really a Threat to My Pet?

               Heartworm disease is a potentially deadly disease which is spread by mosquitoes. Dogs are the main host, but cats and ferrets may also be affected.  Heartworms are not found in the intestinal tract as many people think.  Rather, they are parasites that infect the bloodstream and damage the large blood vessels that enter the heart and lungs.  While much more prevalent in southern states like Florida and Louisiana where mosquitoes can be found in large numbers through much of the year, heartworm disease has been identified in all fifty states.  In 2021, there were over 3,600 heartworm positive dogs in Pennsylvania including 202 in York County and there were 36 positive cats. (https://www.petsandparasites.org/parasite-prevalence-maps)

               As stated, heartworm disease is spread by mosquitos.  Dogs cannot directly infect one another. A mosquito bites an infected dog and acquires the heartworm larvae known as microfilariae.  Infected mosquitoes then carry microfilariae in their guts where they mature.  The infective microfilariae are then injected them into the bloodstream of another dog when mosquitoes feed.  The larvae then go through several life stages inside the dog, eventually maturing within the heart into adult worms which can grow to twelve inches in length.  These worms damage the pulmonary vessels and can eventually lead to heart failure. 

               Heartworm disease can be fatal, but, luckily, it is easy to protect your dog against this deadly disease with a variety of safe and effective preventative medications.  It is much more difficult to treat a dog once infected and the treatment can carry a high chance of moderate to severe side effects.  There are no approved or effective treatments for cats or ferrets, and many will suffer complications of heart and lung disease if infected.  Heartworm disease can be fatal. Symptoms may include coughing, exercise intolerance and heart failure but these symptoms may not appear until late in the course of disease, well after severe damage has already been done.

               Preventatives for dogs include monthly chewable drugs like Sentinel or Heartgard--many of which also treat intestinal parasites like roundworms--topical treatments like Revolution, and injectable drugs like Proheart 12, a long-acting heartworm preventative injected once a year by your veterinarian providing twelve months of protection.  There are also products available for cats and ferrets.  Reduce mosquito populations around your home by dumping any containers that have standing water.  If you travel or camp with your pet, heartworm preventative is a must, especially during the summer months.  

               You might think, “This can’t happen to my dog or cat, he doesn’t spend much time outside.”   The truth is, even indoor pets can become infected if a mosquito gets into the house.  It only takes one mosquito bite to transmit this potentially deadly disease.  Heartworm is on the rise and Patton Veterinary Hospital has treated several dogs for heartworm disease within the past year. 

               Please consider having your dog tested and using a preventative if you are not already doing so. Talk to your vet about the best options for preventing heartworm disease in your pet.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

Source:  https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics