![]() ![]() ![]() This is especially important to keep in mind if your dog travels.Īreas with large populations of wild or stray animals also pose an enhanced risk, but even dogs that stay inside most of the time are not totally safe from a mosquito’s bite. Food & Drug Administration, incidents of the disease have been reported in all fifty states. In the report, Cassan Pulaski, DVM, MPH states that, “…While southern regions of the country have historically been associated with heartworm, we now know pets all over the country are potentially at risk for heartworm disease throughout the year.” According to U.S. While it was once more common in the Atlantic and Gulf coast states, the American Heartworm Society, in its first update since 2014, reports that heartworm is increasing throughout the country and worldwide. were discovered in 1856, in the southeast, according to Stanford University. The worms cause inflammation and damage the heart, arteries, and lungs. After about a year, a dog may harbor hundreds of these worms, although 15 is the average burden. They mature after six months and can live in the dog’s body for seven years, each reaching a length of up to one foot, and constantly producing offspring. The immature worms travel through the bloodstream and, after about two months, settle in the right side of the heart, where they begin to grow. Residue on the mosquito’s mouthpiece carries immature worms called microfilaria (which are only about 1/100th of an inch long) from an infected animal to an uninfected one. The worms enter their host through a mosquito bite when it is taking a blood meal. It does not spread from dog to dog, but requires an intermediary, the mosquito, to infect new hosts. goes by the scientific name Dirofilaria immitis or D. The heartworm in dogs that’s prevalent in the U.S. There are treatments available for dogs, but prevention is the wisest approach to dealing with heartworms. Shop our wide selection of heartworm medicine so you can protect your best friend 24/7.Heartworm is a potentially deadly parasite that is transmitted only by mosquitos, which pick up larval heartworms, called microfilaria, circulating in the bloodstream of infected animals.ĭogs and other canids, such as fox, wolves, and coyote, are considered the primary heartworm hosts, but these parasites can also affect other mammals, including cats and ferrets. The Chewy pet pharmacy has many medications needed to keep your pets healthy and safe, including prescription dog medicine for a variety of ailments, flea & tick medication for cats and medications for your other pets too. There are many options for heartworm protection and choosing the right one is important. You can also choose combination products that combine heartworm medicine with prescription flea & tick medication in one easy dose for convenience. Most heartworm medicines provide protection for up to a month, and some are available as combo treatments that protect against roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms and more. You should have the option of choosing between oral heartworm medications in pill, chewable tablet or soft chew form or a heartworm preventative medicine applied as a topical. Once your dog has tested negative for heartworms or completed heartworm treatment, he can begin the heartworm preventative regimen recommended and prescribed by his vet. If your dog tests positive for heartworms, he will need to undergo heartworm treatment to eliminate the dangerous parasites. Heartworm medication is available only by prescription, and your vet will need to perform a heartworm test before prescribing any preventatives. For owners of younger dogs, it is important to ask about heartworm medicine for puppies, as younger pups need protection as well. Your vet should be up to date on all the latest products available and can advise you on which ones may be best for your pup. Your vet is the person to ask about the best heartworm prevention for dogs. Chewy carries many types of heartworm medication for dogs, including heartworm pills, topical heartworm medications, and combination products that kill other parasites too. Protect your dog against the scourge of heartworms with preventative heartworm medicine. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |