The Dog Days of Summer

Why Your Pet Should be on Heartworm Preventative 

By Gianina Scalise

Original article can be found here. 

Though many dog owners provide their canine companion with a heartworm preventative every month, many have no idea why it is necessary. Unfortunately, even more owners do not give their dog monthly heartworm preventative because the risks of skipping that small, chewable pill are unknown.

The Midwest was previously less likely to see an abundance of dogs infected with heartworm disease, but many southern dogs are being transported to Chicago and other northerly cities. This was especially true after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the surrounding areas, and many of the homeless, injured animals were transported north in an attempt to save them. Unfortunately, many of these dogs were heartworm positive, and the disease began to spread while people remained unaware.

To better understand the need for heartworm preventative, it is important to understand the disease. Heartworm disease is mosquito-borne, meaning a single, seemingly harmless bite can infect your dog. The transmitted worms live in the skin and then the chest muscles as they go through various stages of growth. Then, they move into the bloodstream and make their way to the heart and lungs. The worms can cause unequivocal damage to the arteries of the lungs and the right side of the heart if left untreated.

A dog infected with heartworm disease can be asymptomatic until the disease progresses, and treatment for heartworm disease is equally as painful as the later stages of infection. It involves a series of arsenic-based injections, and the dog must be kept incredibly sedentary for upwards of two or three months to assure no complications arise.

And keep in mind, depending on the dog’s size, heartworm treatment can be very expensive. Though heartworm preventative and annual heartworm tests may be more costly, in the long run, it is very worth it, both for you and your canine companion.

Chicago is seeing its first truly warm day, with the temperature rising to almost eighty-five degrees. Unfortunately, these beautiful summer-esque days are the beginning of heartworm season. Do well by your pets—get heartworm preventative and assure they receive their yearly heartworm test.