Heartworm disease is an often-overlooked danger that can jeopardize your furry friend’s health. This silent, potentially deadly condition can affect dogs and cats, putting them at significant risk if the disease is not treated. Understanding the nuances of heartworm disease is the first step toward ensuring your pet enjoys a long and healthy life.

Follow along as our Smithtown Animal Hospital team delves into the intricacies of heartworm disease—its transmission, signs, treatment options, and most importantly, the preventive measures that can protect your four-legged friend from this insidious threat. 

What is heartworm disease in pets?

Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal—but entirely preventable—condition that can affect any mammal, including dogs, cats, and people. This serious disease is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis, which primarily resides in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of infected pets. 

How are heartworms transmitted to pets?

Heartworms are transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. A mosquito first bites an infected animal and ingests microscopic heartworm larvae (i.e., microfilariae), which then develop into infective larvae inside the mosquito. When the infected mosquito bites another animal, the infective larvae are transferred to the new host, and the cycle begins again.

Because of this life cycle, heartworms are not directly transmissible between pets, but knowing if heartworms are in your area is important for disease prevention. So, if your neighbor’s dog was diagnosed with heartworm disease, you must be extra cautious and ensure your pet receives a regular heartworm preventive to avoid disease, despite the fact that, technically, they cannot “catch” heartworm disease from the infected dog next door.

What signs will my pet with heartworm disease show?

Heartworm disease often progresses silently, with signs becoming apparent only in the later stages. Common signs in dogs include: 

  • Coughing
  • Lethargy
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Exercise intolerance

As heartworm disease progresses, affected dogs can develop heart failure, and their abdomen bloats with fluid. Severe heartworm disease in dogs can also lead to caval syndrome, which leads to obstruction of blood flow through the heart’s right side. Without prompt surgical removal of the heartworm blockage, dogs with caval syndrome will die.

Cats are not natural hosts and often show no clinical signs before their immune system clears the heartworm infection. However, cats are still at risk for serious heartworm disease problems, as immature heartworms traveling through the body cause inflammation that can result in asthma-like signs, neurological issues, or sudden collapse or death.

How is heartworm disease treated in pets?

If diagnosed early, heartworm disease in dogs can be treated with medication. However, step-by-step treatment is lengthy and complex, and the side effects and recovery period come with serious complication risks. 

Once your dog has been diagnosed with heartworm disease through blood testing, grading disease severity is necessary to develop the most appropriate treatment plan. Most commonly, affected dogs will undergo a series of injections derived from an arsenic-based compound that is administered deep into the lumbar muscles. These injections can make your dog feel ill and suffer considerable discomfort.

The treatment and recovery periods for dogs can last several months. Dogs must be exercise-restricted throughout the entire treatment period and for up to eight weeks following the final injection. The more active a dog, the greater their risk for serious complications.

Unfortunately, no treatment is federally approved for heartworm-infected cats, making prevention crucial for your feline friend.

How can I prevent my pet from getting heartworm disease?

Preventing heartworm disease is far simpler and safer than treating an infection. Every pet owner should take these preventive measures for their pet:

  • Administer regular heartworm prevention — Heartworm preventives come in a variety of formulations for easy protection of all pets. Discuss topical, chewable, and injectable options with our team to determine the best product for your pet.
  • Minimize exposure — Whenever possible, minimize your pet’s mosquito exposure by keeping them indoors during the peak mosquito activity times of mornings, late afternoons, and evenings.
  • Manage your environment — Eliminate standing, stagnant water around your home where mosquitoes breed. 
  • Schedule regular wellness visits — Schedule regular check-ups with your veterinarian to monitor your pet’s health and discuss preventive measures. No prevention measures are 100% guaranteed, so annual heartworm testing is crucial, including for pets on a preventive regimen. Early diagnosis and treatment give your furry pal the best prognosis.

Heartworm disease is a serious threat to your four-legged friend, but thorough knowledge and preventive measures can significantly reduce their risk. Stay informed, schedule regular veterinary visits, and diligently follow preventive protocols, and you will help ensure your pet leads a long, healthy, heartworm-disease-free life. Give our Smithtown Animal Hospital team a call to schedule your pet’s heartworm test and to pick up more prevention products.