Protecting Your Pet from Heartworms: It's YOUR Responsibility

I've seen a lot in 1.5 years of practicing veterinary medicine and one thing that never gets easier is seeing pets die of heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a disease caused by mosquito bites that literally results in worms developing in your pet's heart, left untreated it can cause irreversible damage to the heart muscle and can result in the death of your pet. I am convinced some people truly believe that this is something vets have made up to make money or think that this isn't actually as prevalent as their veterinarian says it is. I'm here to tell you that 1. it is not a money maker for most clinics (I'll be the first to script out heartworm prevention if for some crazy reason you think you can get it cheaper through an online pharmacy) and 2. it's not worth the risk. 

Pictured above are actual heartworms extracted from a dog's heart. 31 worms. 

Here are some myths about heartworm disease and prevention. 

Myth 1: I live in the north where mosquitoes aren't prevalent, so I'm not worried about heartworm disease. 

Fact: Heartworm disease has afflicted pets in all 50 states. We'd like to think that only people in warm, humid states should be concerned about heartworm disease but this is unfortunately not the case due to the traveling of animals between state lines and the fact that many types of mosquitoes can transmit heartworms.  

Myth 2: Only dogs get heartworms and I'm a cat or ferret owner. 

Fact: Only dogs can be treated for heartworms and that makes prevention that much more important for cats and ferrets. Once diagnosed with heartworms, supportive care is the only option for cats and ferrets.

Myth 3: Heartworm prevention is expensive and not something I can afford monthly.

Fact: I guarantee you there is a financially viable option out there for you to prevent heartworm disease in your pet . Many veterinary practices sell single doses of heartworm prevention with these doses ranging from $10.99-25.00 depending on the product. Talk to your veterinarian about finding an affordable way for you to make sure your pet is on heartworm prevention.

Myth 4: Heartworm prevention is unnatural and poses health risks to my pet. 

Fact: Contracting heartworm disease is a bigger threat to your pet than any of the FDA approved heartworm prevention products currently on the market if dosed appropriately and at the correct frequency. I understand the desire to be an "all natural" pet owner, but even the strictest mosquito control cannot guarantee your pet's protection from heartworm disease. Mosquitoes can get indoors and it is virtually impossible to stop your pet from getting bit by a mosquito at least once in their lifetime. 

Myth 5: If my pet does get heartworms, I'll just start prevention then. 

Fact: This is incredible dangerous and even with veterinary supervision poses risks to your pet. Heartworm prevention in a heartworm positive pet can result in the uncontrolled death of the heartworms which may cause anaphylactic reactions or blockages when pieces of the dead heartworms get lodged in arteries which can be fatal. It is extremely important to follow a treatment protocol to ensure that the heartworms are completely eliminated as quickly as possible to minimize the damage done to the heart but slow enough to allow the body to cope with the aggressive treatment and the risks that the elimination of those heartworms has to the arteries, veins, and lungs. 

One final note, death by heartworms is brutal. There is a lot of suffering. As your pet's heart decompensates due to the worms occupying its heart, fluid gets backed up in the right side of the heart and builds up in the abdomen causing difficulty breathing, coughing and the risk of a worm dying, breaking and lodging in the vessels is present at all times. I've euthanized two pets that were in the end stages of heartworm disease. Their owners would not hesitate to use heartworm prevention if given a second chance. Please don't take the risk, your pets depend on you to protect them from this preventable disease. 

All of the facts that I state in this post come directly from The American Heartworm Society- please check out their website:www.heartwormsociety.org.