From the Series: Top Twenty Questions Asked by Veterinary Clients

Heartworm disease is fatal.

Juvenile worms attach to the inner surface of the right atrium and grow to a foot in length as they feed on blood and heart tissue. Their bodies block the proper function of the heart causing heart failure, but not before their breeding causes a chronic pneumonia making it hard for pets to breathe.  Coughing, difficulty breathing, then heart failure and kidney failure, is a miserable way to die.

Heartworm is treatable – IN EARLY STAGES.

We can prevent the heart failure and pneumonia if we catch the disease in its early stages. Once coughing and shortness of breath develop, treating becomes much harder.

Heartworm testing is accurate and inexpensive.

telling secrets

We used to take a drop of blood and look at it under the microscope and hope to see swimming larvae, not an accurate test, but better than nothing. Now we detect specific molecules produced only by adult female heartworm; extremely accurate! At our hospital, a heartworm test can be performed for less than $20.

Heartworm prevention is not a guarantee.

If you have ever given your dog a medication, only to find it vomited up with some grass an hour later, you know that just because you remembered to give the monthly pill exactly on time is no guarantee your dog is medicated.

Heartworm disease is on the rise.

Diagnosed in every state, with increasing numbers every year.

Heartworm testing is required for prevention guarantees.

Pharmaceutical companies will guarantee their medicines will prevent heartworm disease if a negative result is documented at the time prevention is started.

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