Heartworm Prevention
Methods to Prevent Heartworms
Heartworms, Dirofilaria immitis, are transmitted by infected mosquitoes and affect dogs, cats, ferrets, and other mammals. Heartworm disease has been found in all fifty states, in both urban and rural areas. If left untreated, heartworms can cause serious health complications and, in some cases, even death.
Heartworm disease is preventable. Puppies and kittens should be started on monthly heartworm prevention once they are 8 weeks old. All of our heartworm preventatives (ivermectin, milbemycin oxime, moxidectin, selamectin) belong to a class of drugs called macrocyclic lactones. Those medications are highly effective and very safe when given according to label instructions. At Blue Lake Animal Hospital, we will work to treat your pet and provide you with the knowledge and resources to take care of your pet while recovering from heartworm treatment in the event your pet becomes infected. If you believe heartworms have infected your pet, contact Blue Lake Animal Hospital immediately. We are happy to help.
The heartworm larvae mature into adults about six months after the infected mosquito bite. Adult heartworms can grow up to 12 inches long and live for 5 to 7 years. They also create microfilaria, or baby heartworms, which circulate in the blood and can be ingested and spread by mosquitoes. We can test your pet for adult heartworms and microfilaria.
FAQs About Heartworm Prevention for Pets in Michigan
What exactly do heartworms do to my pet?
After an infected mosquito bite, heartworm larvae travel through the bloodstream and settle in the heart, lungs, and related blood vessels, where they mature into adults that can grow up to a foot long. Their presence can cause blockages resulting in heart failure, severe lung disease, and damage to other organs.
If I don't see mosquitoes, is my pet safe?
It just takes one mosquito bite to infect your pet, and mosquitoes can be found both indoors and outdoors at various times throughout the year. Prevention is crucial because of this consistent risk.
You say one of the symptoms is "no symptoms." What does that mean?
In the early stages of the disease, many pets show no outward signs of illness at all. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of heartworms: by the time symptoms like coughing, fatigue, or weight loss appear, significant and sometimes irreversible damage has already occurred. This is why annual testing is vital for early detection.
Why is prevention so much better than treatment?
There are three critical reasons:
- Safety: Heartworm prevention is safe and simple, while treatment for dogs is lengthy and intensive.
- Effectiveness: Prevention is highly effective, but treatment generally cannot reverse the damage already done to the heart and lungs.
- Cost: The cost of year-round prevention is a fraction of the cost of heartworm treatment.
When should I start my pet on heartworm prevention?
We recommend starting pets on a monthly heartworm preventative as soon as they are old enough, which is typically around 8 weeks of age. Getting them started early keeps them protected from their very first exposure to the outside world.
