The scary part about heartworm disease is that it only takes one mosquito bite to infect your dog. Adult female heartworms living in an infected dog will produce baby worms known as microfilaria that can be found in the dog's bloodstream. When a mosquito bites the infected dog, the microfilaria will be ingested with the blood. Once in the mosquito, the microfilaria will mature into infective larvae. A mosquito carrying heartworm larvae will bite a dog and transfer the larvae through the bite. Once infected, it can take up to six months for the larvae to grow into adult heartworms.



How will I know if my dog has heartworm disease?

Most dogs only show signs of heartworm disease after they've been infected and sick for a while. These signs can include decreased appetite and weight loss, exercise intolerance, and coughing. As the infection worsens, many dogs will go into heart failure and can die.

The important thing to remember is MOST INFECTED DOGS DON'T SHOW ANY SIGN AT ALL! That is why yearly heartworm testing is important, so we can catch the infection early. We can run this test during your visit at Shaver Road Animal Hospital - all it takes is 3 drops of blood and 8 minutes for the test to run. Our heartworm test also includes screening for Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma (blood diseases transmitted through tick bites) at no extra charge to you.

Can you treat heartworm disease?

Canine heartworm disease is treatable. It is expensive and can be risky, depending on the health of the dog and how severe the infection. Treatment includes a series of 2 to 3 injections given over a month, deep in the back muscles. Side effects to treatment can include organ damage, anaphylaxis, or even sudden death as the heartworms are treated. Because of these risks, prevention is key!!

How do I prevent my dog from getting heartworm disease?

After your dog has tested negative, we recommend a heartworm prevention medication given once monthly all year long. This medication kills the infective larvae and prevents them from growing into adult heartworms. We recommend using the heartworm medication year round because mosquito season starts and ends at different times each year. Some mosquitos may even survive in your house!

Yes, they can! At Shaver Road Animal Hospital we typically do not see as many cases of feline heartworms as we do in our canine friends. We do offer feline heartworm testing and prevention medications and certainly recommend them for any cat who spends time outdoors. Mosquitos can still come indoors and bite your cat, but the risk is lower.

We'll be happy to set up a time to run this easy test and get your pet started on preventative right away!