Heartworm disease, which affects cats, dogs, and other animals, can be a deadly ailment. A heartworm parasite enters your pet’s bloodstream by biting the mosquito carrying the disease. The pet becomes the permanent host for the parasite after being bitten by a mosquito infected.
When a mosquito bite strikes an animal with heartworm infection, this treatable disease is set off. Heartworms are found within the heart of the animal suffering from the disease, and lungs and blood vessels are what gives them their name. Heartworms are most commonly found in dogs, cats, and ferrets as pets in the home.
The signs and symptoms your dog experiences will vary according to where the heartworm is located in its lifecycle. Be aware that some symptoms could also be indicators of other conditions.
Heartworm Disease in Pets
Heartworm infections are a severe and rapidly developing disease. The quicker the disease can be discovered, the more likely the animal will heal. When a dog or cat suffers from heartworms, there are no early signs of illness; therefore, it’s vital to find them by having a vet perform a heartworm test.
Symptoms
The symptoms of heartworm disease include breathing problems, coughing, weight loss, exhaustion, and an expanding belly. However, these signs aren’t evident unless the illness is not advanced enough and your animal is in critical condition. Heartworm is not a disease that has warning signs or symptoms in the beginning.
Each stage of heartworm disease progresses, increasing the invasiveness of the treatments. This is a significant factor that explains why early detection is crucial for the recovery of your dog and its capacity. Consult your vet for a pet annual vaccination.
Diagnosis
Your pet’s infection status may be established with a simple blood test. Cats are challenging to recognize; hence preventative measures are always the best course of action. The most effective method of ensuring your pet’s overall health is to ensure they are on regular heartworm treatment and plan regular visits to the vet.
Your veterinarian will look for Heartworm antigens in your pet’s blood to determine if they have the condition. Within five months of the time an infected mosquito bit your pet, antigens of heartworm could be identified for the first time.
Treatment
One of the first things to be aware of is that the treatment for heartworms and prevention are very different. Heartworm diseases can be prevented, and prevention is easy and effective. Pets suffering from heartworm disease who have contracted the disease are provided with treatment options.
The treatment for heartworms can damage your pet’s body and lead to serious health problems. Heartworm treatment is costly and requires numerous appointments with a vet, blood tests, X-rays, hospitalization, and injections. Most patients who receive their first heartworm treatment are hospitalized to receive an adulticide. It is a medicine that kills adult heartworms. Visit a veterinary clinic for a cat wellness exam.
Prevention
Heartworm is a problem that can be easily avoided. It is essential to schedule an appointment right away if your pet is not already on a heartworm preventive medication that your vet has prescribed. Since prevention is so simple, there is no need for your pet to be exposed to heartworm disease.
Keeping your pet on a preventative medication is the most effective method of avoiding heartworm disease. Although your animal is already taking preventive heartworm medications, it is recommended that they undergo a yearly heartworm examination.
The price of prevention for heartworms is significantly less than the cost of treatment of the disease after it has progressed. Roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms can all be prevented using specific heartworm-prevention drugs. Visit a veterinary website for more info.
