Heartworms are a growing problem nationwide and are found in all 50 states. More than 6.3 million pets enter shelters each year with unknown heartworm status, and roughly 50% of pet owners do not have their pet checked for heartworms. These factors create a high-risk environment for any pet (dog or cat) that is not taking heartworm prevention.
Myth #1: Heartworm prevention is only needed in the summer
There is no “season” for heartworms. Summers are getting hotter and longer, while spring, fall, and winter have milder temperatures. In addition, urban spaces and indoor environments provide heat islands where mosquitoes thrive. According to the American Heartworm Society (AHS), the incidence of heartworms has risen each of the last five years and is up 20% from 2013. Due to the rising rate of heartworms in the United States, AHS recommends year-round heartworm prevention and annual testing for both dogs and cats.
Click here to view annual incidence maps.
When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks up tiny heartworm larvae, known as microfilaria, that are transmitted to other animals each time that mosquito feeds on a new host. Mosquitoes can travel up to three miles a day, which means that just one heartworm positive pet in your neighborhood can put your pet at risk.
Heartworm prevention works by killing heartworms in the larval (immature) stage. Without heartworm prevention interrupting the cycle, those microfilariae grow and develop into adult heartworms, which reproduce to invade your pet’s heart, lungs, and arteries.
Myth #2: An annual heartworm test is unnecessary because I use prevention
Due to the increase in positive cases and treatment-resistant strains, AHS recommends annual heartworm tests for all cats and dogs. It takes just six months for a heartworm to mature and start reproducing, by which time they have reached your pet’s heart and lungs, so the longer you wait between tests, the harder it is for your pet to heal from heartworm infection.
If you would like to learn more about the clinical effects of heartworm, click here.
Myth #3: My pets are not at risk because they are inside
Mosquitoes are everywhere, including your car, your home, your place of business, where you shop, etc. One infected mosquito can drink up to 3 times its weight and transmits heartworm larvae with each bite. They are also prolific; one female mosquito can lay 500 eggs in her life. According to AHS, 1 in 4 cats diagnosed with heartworm disease are reported to be indoor-only cats.
Myth #4: Annual testing and prevention are too expensive
According to MetLife Pet Insurance, the average cost of heartworm treatment is around $1500, but can skyrocket to as much as $6000, depending on the severity of the disease and the size of your pet. The real cost, however, is that treatment is painful, requiring several injections over the course of months. In addition, you will need to crate your pet for extensive periods and/or bear the cost of overnight hospitalizations, and have multiple tests run to determine treatment.
Compare that to the cost of testing and prevention, estimated between $350 – $400 per year. If your budget is stretched thin, many prevention manufacturers have rewards programs. Check out these programs from Zoetis and Elanco. They are the cat’s meow!
Myth #5: I can treat heartworm disease if my pet gets it
If detected in time, heartworms in dogs can be treated and killed, but the damage done to the heart, lungs, and arteries is irreversible. Even the dead and decomposing heartworms can cause dangerous clots as they move through the blood vessels, reducing blood flow and increasing the chance of respiratory distress, stroke and heart failure.
There is NO treatment for cats. The most common treatments used in dogs are toxic to felines.
Conclusion
Symptoms of heartworm disease include coughing, an unwillingness to exercise, fatigue, poor appetite, and weight loss. If you think your pet might be suffering or needs to get back on track with annual testing and prevention, call us today to schedule an exam. Our mission statement at Fox Run Animal Hospital is YOUR PETS’ HEALTH IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.
3390 S. Lapeer Road ~ Metamora, MI 48455 ~ (810) 678-8738