Most dog owners know that it is important to prevent heartworm in their dogs but not many know exactly why this is important.
Heartworms can cause serious health damage to dogs and this is why medicating dogs to reduce the risk of heartworm disease is crucial.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and risk of infection is higher in warm and humid parts of the country.
In the past heartworms were restricted to the southern United States but have since become prevalent throughout the country.
Some areas require preventative measures on the part of dog owners during mosquito season while other areas require prevention throughout the year.
As a safety precaution, the American Heartworm Society is advising that all states throughout the nation should implement prevention programs all the year around.
Even if you live in a part of the country where mosquitoes aren't prevalent, medicating your dog will protect him if you have to travel and he gets exposed to mosquitoes.
Heartworms go through many growth cycles before maturing into lethal adults.
Semi-mature worms enter the dog's system via mosquito bites and spend some time subcutaneously before entering the blood system.
They then make their way to the heart and begin reproducing.
This process take can six to seven months and when they begin reproducing, they cause massive damage.
Heartworms can reach lengths of 30 centimeters and due to their large size they can cause blood flow obstructions in the heart.
Left untreated these obstructions can result in heart failure.
Heartworms cause a multitude of health conditions such as liver and kidney failure, respiratory disease and in certain cases blindness and seizures.
Dogs bitten by infected mosquitoes don't show any symptoms of indications of the disease until the worms have reached adulthood.
After about seven months, the dog will start displaying signs of disease such as coughing, weight loss, fainting episodes and coughing up blood.
Heart failure is not far behind when this happens.
As this deadly disease is caused by a tiny mosquito bite, prevention is vital.
Administering heartworm medication to an infected dog can be lethal so your veterinarian will have to perform a blood test before being put in any heartworm medication.
Dogs under the age of seven months can be safely started on heartworm medication without a blood test but testing for heartworm infection should be performed seven months after the initial dose because it takes seven months for the worms to develop into adults.
Preventative programs consist of two options: daily doses and monthly doses.
The monthly dose is more popular because it a month is missed, the next dosage will provide protection for the missed month.
It is also harder to miss a monthly dose than a daily one.
If you miss a monthly dose you should have your dog checked for heartworms seven months after the missed dose.
Followed properly, the daily and monthly prevention programs should provide protection from heartworm infection.
You should never leave a dog unprotected against these deadly parasites and if your dog is not on a heartworm prevention program you should take him to the vet to determine when and how you can start protecting him.
Heartworms are not a matter to be taken likely and since infected mosquitoes are everywhere and preventing your dog from being bitten from a mosquito is virtually impossible, you really should start your dog on heartworm medication.
You will need to take your dog to the vet to be tested for heartworm and then your vet will be in a position to prescribe the most appropriate medication for you.
Heartworms can cause serious health damage to dogs and this is why medicating dogs to reduce the risk of heartworm disease is crucial.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and risk of infection is higher in warm and humid parts of the country.
In the past heartworms were restricted to the southern United States but have since become prevalent throughout the country.
Some areas require preventative measures on the part of dog owners during mosquito season while other areas require prevention throughout the year.
As a safety precaution, the American Heartworm Society is advising that all states throughout the nation should implement prevention programs all the year around.
Even if you live in a part of the country where mosquitoes aren't prevalent, medicating your dog will protect him if you have to travel and he gets exposed to mosquitoes.
Heartworms go through many growth cycles before maturing into lethal adults.
Semi-mature worms enter the dog's system via mosquito bites and spend some time subcutaneously before entering the blood system.
They then make their way to the heart and begin reproducing.
This process take can six to seven months and when they begin reproducing, they cause massive damage.
Heartworms can reach lengths of 30 centimeters and due to their large size they can cause blood flow obstructions in the heart.
Left untreated these obstructions can result in heart failure.
Heartworms cause a multitude of health conditions such as liver and kidney failure, respiratory disease and in certain cases blindness and seizures.
Dogs bitten by infected mosquitoes don't show any symptoms of indications of the disease until the worms have reached adulthood.
After about seven months, the dog will start displaying signs of disease such as coughing, weight loss, fainting episodes and coughing up blood.
Heart failure is not far behind when this happens.
As this deadly disease is caused by a tiny mosquito bite, prevention is vital.
Administering heartworm medication to an infected dog can be lethal so your veterinarian will have to perform a blood test before being put in any heartworm medication.
Dogs under the age of seven months can be safely started on heartworm medication without a blood test but testing for heartworm infection should be performed seven months after the initial dose because it takes seven months for the worms to develop into adults.
Preventative programs consist of two options: daily doses and monthly doses.
The monthly dose is more popular because it a month is missed, the next dosage will provide protection for the missed month.
It is also harder to miss a monthly dose than a daily one.
If you miss a monthly dose you should have your dog checked for heartworms seven months after the missed dose.
Followed properly, the daily and monthly prevention programs should provide protection from heartworm infection.
You should never leave a dog unprotected against these deadly parasites and if your dog is not on a heartworm prevention program you should take him to the vet to determine when and how you can start protecting him.
Heartworms are not a matter to be taken likely and since infected mosquitoes are everywhere and preventing your dog from being bitten from a mosquito is virtually impossible, you really should start your dog on heartworm medication.
You will need to take your dog to the vet to be tested for heartworm and then your vet will be in a position to prescribe the most appropriate medication for you.