Heartworm infections in canines are nearly 100% avoidable – preventives are safe, affordable and effective. Yet hundreds of thousands of dogs suffer needlessly every year due to misunderstandings about the factors that increase the risk of infection in your pet.
Here are some of the important facts that you should learn in order to help you pet remain heartworm-free.
Heartworm Facts You Should Know
- Heartworm infections are prevelant in warm humid regions like Sarasota and Bradenton.
- All dogs are susceptible to infection, and before you begin your dog on preventatives, your pet should be tested for the disease. Even dogs who benefit from preventative measures should be tested annually for this and all intestinal parasites.
- Stray dogs are often infected and serve as carriers as well.
- Mosquitoes are the primary method of transmission for heartworms. These insects actually are responsible for the spread of a vast number of diseases and mosquito control is an important step in preventing diseases. Just one bite from an infected mosquito can cause heartworm in your dog. Unfortunately, this may happen at any time of the year in Florida. There are many species of mosquitoes capable of transmitting heartworm, and they can live in areas like garages or greenhouses which are warmer throughout the year. While the risk is far greater in the summer, the threat never really goes away.
- Heartworm disease can be found even in indoor dogs, especially as residents in the Sarasota area will often leaves slider doors and windows open during temperate weather. While the risk of exposure is greater in outdoor animals, indoor dogs should be checked regularly.
- While larval heartworms are microscopic in size, adult heartworms can grow to over a foot in length. Infection of dozens of these worms in your dogs lungs and intestines is devastating to a dog’s circulation and may cause death.
- In contrast to easy preventatives, treatments involve injectable arsenic-like chemicals and antibiotics such as Doxycycline; as well as long periods of total exercise restriction.
Heartworm Prevention
Current preventives all prevent the maturation of immature heartworms. Oral, injectable or topical forms are administered regularly, and should be throughout the year to prevent all types of parasites. Your veterinarian is the best source for the recommended combination of products for your dog. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting your dog on any preventative measures.
An important part of mosquito control is getting rid of those places where they reproduce. The most effective way to minimize breeding is to eliminate standing water in flower pots, ponds and puddles, as these areas encourage mosquito breeding. Window screens should be checked to ensure that they fit windows snugly and are free of rips, gaps and tears. Keep dogs inside at twilight, as this is the most active time of day for mosquitos.
Heartworms are a serious health problem for dogs , and prevention is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. If you have recently brought a new dog into your family, be sure to bring him to the veterinarian to set a baseline for heartworm prevention.
Here’s a Hint: Although dogs can’t tell us exactly what is wrong, you can study your dog’s personality in order to readily identify any changes in behavior. When a normally docile dogs starts getting irritable, or a great eater begins ignoring his food, take them to a vet for a full checkup. They are often not feeling well.
At Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training, we are committed to your dog’s overall health – emotional and physical. If you need any assistance with obedience training, puppy training or are simply looking for a place for your dog to play – we are your choice in Sarasota.
