Heartworm Disease - What Is It?

Heartworm Disease - What Is It?

Heartworm Disease - What Is It?

Nowadays, a person's pet is like another member of their family. Our pets are our children and we must care for them as such with regular trips to the vet and loving care. If you own a dog or cat, it is your responsibility to know what diseases your pet may be prone to. Perhaps one of the worst your dog and even your cat can contract is Heartworm disease.

Heartworm disease is most prevalent in areas with high mosquito populations. Mosquitoes are carriers of Dirofilaria Immitis, which is the proper name of the larvae responsible for these worms. If your cat or dog is bitten by a mosquito that is carrying these larvae, they may contract Heartworm disease. Development of this disease starts when the larvae are transferred into the pet's body when bitten by a mosquito. As the mosquito drinks the pet's blood, the larvae enter the body and start their journey to the heart. Just as you would assume from the name, this disease concentrates on the heart and/or lungs, and sometimes even the liver of your pet. Your dog or cat may not show any signs or symptoms for months after they contracted the disease, and the worst part of it is that by the time they start showing symptoms, the heartworms have already taken a strong hold in your pet. The problems begin when the adult worms infest the arteries of the heart and lungs. This leads to respiratory distress, heart failure, and eventually death.

Some good news is that heartworm disease is preventable, and is relatively simple to prevent. Preventative measures taken depend on where you live. If you live in an area with lots of mosquitoes, you will need to give your pet preventative medications, use insect repellents, and may even need to screen in sleeping areas to lessen the animal's exposure to mosquitoes. Your vet can tell you if your pet has heartworms or not, and can recommend what medications to give your pet. If you haven't taken these precautions and live in mosquito infested areas, you should check your pet for signs and symptoms of heartworms at once. If your pet develops a quick onset of constant coughing, difficulty breathing, or a marked decrease in his energy level, you need to get him checked out by your vet at your earliest convenience. Other signs may be a swollen abdomen or marked weight loss.

Heartworm disease is horrid, and treatment for the disease once it has manifested is usually hard on the pet. There are instances where the animal won't survive the treatment. The biggest thing to remember though is that this disease is very easy to prevent. There was a time that only tropical climates were prone to heartworms, but today, it is a world-wide threat. There have been cases found where you would least expect them, such in areas with abandoned homes or untended swimming pools. These places can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

So, the question is, why would you want to risk it? By simply giving your pet one chewable tablet monthly, you can prevent this disease from ever developing, and save you and your pet pain and misery from the illness, or vet visits and treatments.

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