April is Heartworm Awareness Month, and it is important that pet owners know about heartworm disease. Some pet owners know the basics: spread by mosquitoes, your pet gets tested for it at the vet, and you give your pet a pill or drops every month to prevent it. Many pet owners wonder why their vet stresses testing and prevention....that's just more money from their pockets!
Here are a few important things to remember about Heartworms:
- Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, putting virtually every dog at risk from
- Heartworm disease can be fatal! Yes, it can cause death in dogs, and often does in cats.
- The treatment for Heartworm disease in dogs is costly and very hard on them, and even with the treatment your dog may not make it. There is no treatment for Heatworm in cats.
- Heartworm disease is PREVENTABLE! The American Heartworm Society recommends yearly heartworm blood tests for all dogs, and heartworm prevention every month year round. With milder winters, more people traveling, and the added benefit that heartworm prevention also controls some intestinal parasites, it's very beneficial to keep your pet on heartworm prevention all year long.
The American Heartworm Society is a good resource for all things heartworm. Below are a couple links to check out regarding heartworm disease:
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/faqs.html
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your pet and heartworm disease, please consult your veterinarian. Check back later this month for more information on this deadly, yet preventable, disease!