Keep Calm and Be Prepared for Heartworm Season

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Holly

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, and for good reason. Heartworm is a serious disease found throughout the entire United States that affects both dogs and cats. Prevention is the best medicine. It can be very difficult and expensive to treat infected dogs, and there is currently no treatment for cats.

The parasite Dirofilaria immitis, commonly called heartworm, is transmitted from animal to animal by mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites your pet it can transmit the Dirofilaria larvae into your pet’s bloodstream. Once inside your pet, the larvae continue to develop over the course of about six months. They make their way to the heart or lungs where they mature and reproduce. Adult worms live for years. They can grow to more than 12 inches long and cause blockages in the heart and lungs and damage to arteries.

Is My Pet At Risk?

Heartworm Incidence Map Courtesy of the American Heartworm Society

Heartworm disease is more prevalent throughout the midwest and southeast but has been diagnosed in all 50 states. Because infected mosquitoes can come inside, both outdoor and indoor pets are at risk.

The American Heartworm Society recommends that you “think 12:” (1) get your pet tested every 12 months and (2) give your pet heartworm preventive 12 months a year.

Preventatives

Heartworm medications kill immature worms and prevent them from maturing into adults that cause illness. For this reason, preventive medications are given continuously every 30 days because they kill the existing larvae, and cannot kill adult worms. Heartworm medications require a prescription from your veterinarian because annual blood testing is required to make sure your pet is not infected.

Oral Heartworm Preventatives Available at VetRxDirect

Some preventatives can also control intestinal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Some products are even effective in treating external parasites such as fleas, ticks, ear mites, and the mite that causes scabies.

Stop Mosquitoes

It may be next to impossible to keep all mosquitoes away from your pet, but they can carry many other diseases that can harm your pet. Here are some helpful tips you can take to reduce their exposure to mosquito bites.

Use a parasite preventative for your pet that repels and kills mosquitoes
Use a pet-friendly insect repellant
Get rid of standing water sources around your home
Grow mosquito repelling plants like basil or marigolds
Use caution with yard pesticides

We have a large selection of heart worm and parasite preventative treatments for both dogs and cats. Choosing the right product for your pet should be done with the help of your veterinarian to make sure they have the best protection.

Should I give Heartworm Prevention to my Pet Year Around?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Wes Hepker

Protect Your Pet – Heartworm InfoGraphic Presented by the American Heartworm Society

One of the most serious diseases your pet can contract, heartworms are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. If left untreated, the larvae will grow into mature worms that settle in the heart and the lungs. An affected dog or cat will tire easily, cough incessantly, and may succumb to the disease after a long and painful period of time. Because there is only one approved treatment for heatworms in dog and zero in cats, prevention is key.

Heartworm Tests for Dogs and Cats

It is important to start your canine or feline friend on a monthly heartworm preventative. First, your veterinarian may need to test your pet for heartworms before safely prescribing a preventative. Dogs should be tested every 12 months and pets should be on a preventative 12 months a year.

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Monthly Preventatives for Heartworm Diesase

Advantage Multi: Available in both feline and canine versions, Advantage Multi protects your pet from heartworm disease and other parasites, including fleas, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. A single dose once a month is all you need to kill these fearsome freeloaders before they mature. Always consult your veterinarian before administering any prescription medication. In most cases, Advantage Multi is completely safe for puppies and kittens over two months old. On rare occasion, an animal may have an underlying health condition that prevents early treatment. The topical drug is safe, affordable, and easy to apply.

Heartgard Plus: Formulated for dogs, Heartgard Plus kills heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms. These tasty chewables are safe for dogs six weeks or older, although it is important to consult your veterinarian before administering any prescription medication. This goes double if your pet is pregnant or has any underlying medical condition, especially a chronic one.

Like other preventatives, these once-monthly chewables contain FDA-approved drugs to control heartworms and other parasites.

Iverhart Max: Because it is a common disease, there are a number of safe and effective chewables used to prevent heartworm disease in dogs. Iverhart Max tablets are flavored chewable tables sold in monthly doses. In addition to guarding them from heartworm disease, they can also be used to treat hookworm, tapeworm, and roundworm infestations. Although the label says it is safe for dogs eight week of age and older, it is always best to consult your veterinarian before you give your canine friend any drug or supplement. If he has an underlying medical issue, a new medication could cause complications.

Heartworm Prevention in Dogs

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Wes Hepker

What are the chances of a dog getting heartworms?

A potentially deadly disease for many species of animals, dogs are highly susceptible to heartworm infection. Spread by infected mosquitoes, incidence rates are highest along the coasts and near major waterway, such as the Mississippi River. A recent study found that nearly half of all dogs not on a heartworm preventative in these areas came down with the disease. With that said, heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 U.S. states.

What is heartworm disease in dogs?

Once bitten by an infected mosquito, the heartworm larvae will take about six or seven months to mature into adult heartworms inside your dog. They then begin to reproduce and congregate in the lungs, blood vessels, and the heart. These adult worms can grow up to a foot in length and have a lifespan of five to seven years. A dog can survive with as many as 250 worms in its system, although the disease will cause a whole host of serious health problems.

Because they are parasites, heartworms must feed of their hosts, specifically on the nutrients in their blood. When the worms grow into mature bloodsuckers and there are a large number of them, your furry friend will begin to experience symptoms of heartworm infestation.

The single most common sign your dog is suffering from heartworms is a precipitous decline in energy level. Since the heartworms steal the nutrients your dog needs to stay active, your pouch may refuse to engage in activities once enjoyed, such as walking, playing fetch, or swimming. Your pet may seem lethargic or dazed, even during the day.

In extreme cases, your dog may lose a significant amount of weight, even if the diet remains unchanged. A persistent, hacking cough is another unmistakable symptom of heartworm disease, since the worms also migrate to the lungs. Rapid breathing may ensue shortly thereafter.

Diagnosis of Heartworm Disease in Dogs

According to most veterinarians, your dog should be tested for heartworm disease at least once a year. If caught at an early stage, the immature worms are relatively easy to exterminate. But once they have reached maturity, heartworms can cause serious health problems, even death. The diagnosis involves a simple blood test for antigens and is inexpensive and extremely accurate.

If your dog tests positive for the disease, treatment can take several months if the worms have reached adulthood, since they are more difficult to kill than immature worms. It can also be quite painful and your furry friend will have to rest for several months following treatment to prevent dead worms from entering the lungs.

Prevention of Heartworms in Dogs is the Key

Heartworm disease is completely preventable. A tasty and inexpensive monthly chewable is all you need to protect your dog from the potentially deadly condition. These medications must be given year round, even during the colder months when mosquitoes are less prevalent. Let us take a moment to discuss two of the most popular heartworm preventatives on the market today.

Heartgard Plus for Dogs

In addition to eradicating immature heartworms, Heartgard Plus tasty monthly chewable kills hookworms and roundworms as well. Safe for canines six weeks and older, the powerful FDA-approved chemicals in Heartgard Plus for Dogs can control heartworms in your canine friend. As with any prescription medication, it is important to speak with your veterinarian before giving it to your pet. Heartgard Plus is sold in packs of 6 or 12 and must be administered once a month, either with food or on its own.

Iverhart Max Flavored Chewables for Dogs

Iverhart Max is Available to Ship from VetRxDirect

Iverhart Max for Dogs

One of the most complete monthly medications on the market today, Iverhart Max Flavored Chewables protects your pouch from hookworm, tapeworm, roundworm, and heartworm. Classified as an anthelminthic or dewormer, it contains ingredients that destroy immature worm infestation in short order. In fact, each ingredient is designed to target a specific type of worm. Ivermectin, for example, kills heartworm larvae soon after it is ingested.

Safe for canines over the age of 8 weeks, most veterinarians will test for heartworms before prescribing this medication. Owners should follow dosing instructions while making sure not to miss a dose. If a dosage is missed, you should contact your veterinarian.

Now is the time to visit your pet’s veterinarian for a heartworm blood test and to talk about the best heartworm preventative for your pet and your area. There are other preventatives than those listed above. Leave a comment below and let us all know which heartworm prevention you use for your dog and your area.