Post by Trish Manche
As part of our placement for our rescued pets, we want to make sure they are going to a home that will provide them with proper veterinary care for their lifetime. As part of this process is our team that reaches out to the veterinarian listed on the application to make sure this is occurring as it should. It is essential to having happy health pets!
Sometimes when we are checking with the veterinarians for current care, we are given unfavorable information, frequently regarding Heartworm Prevention. From the dog and cat owners whose cats or dogs are “always indoors” to the people who believe it’s only a “seasonal requirement”, or those who cannot afford the cost of care. Sadly, this leaves your dogs and cats vulnerable to this parasite that can be life threatening.
When you think about animals that are “indoor only”, think about how many times you open and close your exterior door(s), each time (especially in the evening and early morning hours), it provides the opportunity of a mosquito entering your home that could be infected with the heartworms from biting an infected animal. You are personally in and out those exterior doors and mosquitos can get into your home by hitching a ride on your body or clothes, this would include other parasites like ticks or fleas depending on the areas where you have been.
As the urban areas take over more and more areas, wildlife who live there are closer to our homes. Wildlife like coyotes, foxes, and other hosts may be carriers, however, it could even be a dog in your neighborhood that is infected and may not yet have been diagnosed. In this instance, proactive protection is best.
The parasite is passed when a mosquito takes blood from an infected host which also contains baby worms. When it bites another animal, these baby worms are transmitted to the animal’s skin then enters their system through the mosquito’s bite. The heartworms then develop into adults over a period of 10 to 14 days and the effect can snowball from there.
Dogs are a natural host to heartworms, conditions in their body are perfect. This can lead to several hundred heartworms infecting a dog’s organs. This is an extremely painful and invasive parasite which creates damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries. Treatment is available and dogs can live long and healthy lives after treatment, but as with anything, the damage, once done is permanent.
Cats can host heartworms, but it does not manifest the same as it does in dogs. Infected adult cats will typically host 2-3 adult heartworms. It frequently goes undiagnosed in cats, and can cause Heartworm Respiratory Disease (HARD). The medication that is available for dogs, cannot be used in cats so prevention is the only route. For cats, good flea and tick prevention such as Revolution kills mosquitoes and stops the spread of the disease. It’s not marketed as Heartworm Prevention, but if the label includes mosquitos, that is what you need.
Be sure to have your pets tested annually for heartworms, which is performed routinely at your veterinarian’s office during their annual exams and do oral (for dogs) or topical (for cats) prevention monthly to keep them safe!
You can learn more here: www.heartwormsociety.org