Heartworm Is Here!

Heartworms

As spring is kicking into full swing, make sure your pets are getting their preventatives on schedule.

Dogs need to have an up-to-date exam, weight, and heartworm test in order to get their preventatives. Heartworm positive dogs can receive preventative, but they should be monitored closely in the clinic for an allergic reaction after receiving their first preventative after diagnosis.

Cats can get heartworm disease, too! They are more difficult to diagnose and treat than dogs, so keeping your cat up-to-date on heartworm preventative is key, even indoor cats! Sometimes tricky mosquitoes can sneak indoors, and it only takes one bite for infection to spread!

The video above shows a microfilaria of a Dirofilaria immitis, the heartworm organism. In a nutshell, microfilariae are heartworm babies that circulate in infected dogs (and cats), and are taken up when the animal is bitten by a mosquito.

In the mosquito, the microfilariae mature and are transmitted to other animals, usually taking up residence in the heart (or commonly the lungs in cats).

Unsurprisingly, they can cause some damage while in the dog or cat.

Treatment is unreliable in cats, and expensive and dangerous to treat in dogs, so we much prefer to prevent than have the need to treat.

We recommend prevention year round, because here in Wisconsin, our mosquito-free time is shrinking every year.