No Love for the Heartworm

With Spring in full swing, especially given the appearances of the North Texas flash storms in recent days, it looks like we’re in store for a warmer-than-normal season in Texas. And, with the warmer weather comes the return of the mosquito. We’re sorry to give you the bad news! 
 
We bring this up because it’s the mosquito that causes the problem addressed in this week’s blog – heartworm. Mosquitos are the culprits in passing along the formidable parasite that can wreak havoc on our precious canines. So, what is the disease and how can we keep our pets safe? 

The Disease

 
The heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) enters the bloodstream through a mosquito bite and travel over the course of many weeks to settle inside the heart where they begin to grow. They can grow to full size – up to about a foot long – in six months, reproduce, and reside there for up to seven years. These not-so-friendly neighbors can cause serious damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries.  

The Treatment

Early diagnosis is important and can be confirmed in many cases by a blood test. After a positive diagnosis of heartworm disease, treatment remains possible depending on the severity of the case. The process tends to be complicated and expensive, however.  
 

The Prevention

There’s no way to know if a mosquito is carrying the parasite, so the best course of action is to key in on prevention. It sounds like a never-ending battle in Texas but doing your best to keep mosquitos at bay around your home is important. Keep an eye out for stagnant water (exterior flowerpots, rain gutters, etc.), and consider yard treatments and repellants around your yard and home.  
 
Most importantly, however, is to make sure your doggo is being seen regularly by us right here at AVC – be sure to get in touch with us today!

We’ll be sure to perform regular checkups and ensure they’re set up with year-round preventative medication to keep your canine safe. There are several methods for preventative medication, and all are extremely effective. When properly administered, heartworm disease can be completely prevented.