Preventing Heartworm in Your Family Pet

You might be surprised to learn that dogs aren't the only pets that can suffer from heartworm disease. In fact, this serious disease can strike 30 different animal species, including another popular family pet, cats.

Because of this, our staff at Spay Neuter Express, a mobile vet and animal hospital, recommends that both dog and cat owners remain vigilant for signs that their pets suffer from heartworm. They should also make sure to give their pets regularly scheduled medication -- usually in the form of chewable tablets -- that prevents heartworm.

As with most medical issues, prevention is a far easier and successful option than is treating an animal that has already been infected with heartworm. In fact, there is no approved treatment for cats that suffer from heartworm at this time. And, if these owners do suspect that their animals have been infected, it's important to bring them to our licensed veterinarian, Dr. Langlois as soon as possible.

The Real Dangers of Heartworm

Heartworm is a serious disease. Animals suffer it when a mosquito carrying heartworm larvae bites them. What happens next is the dangerous part: These microscopic larvae enter blood vessels and move to the arteries of pets. Here, these microscopic pests cause inflammation of the lungs, a serious condition.

These larvae can live for years inside dogs and cats. When the adult worms that these larvae become die, though, they can cause inflammation of the heart or lungs that can eventually cause death.

Both dogs and cats display their own signs of heartworm disease. Dogs may cough frequently, or struggle to breathe. They may tire out quickly and easily. Cats may also cough frequently, but they might also vomit, suffer diarrhea, faint, and lose their appetites or experience convulsions or blindness.

The best way to handle heartworm is to visit our veterinarian for heartworm preventatives. This form of medicine kills heartworm larvae that have infected your dog or cat in the past 30 days before these larvae have the opportunity to grow into adult worms. Our vet can recommend several preventative options, including medication that comes in the form of chewable tablets.

Spay Neuter Express, one of the only mobile vet practices in Grand Rapids, is equipped to treat your dog's or cat's heartworm. And as a mobile animal hospital, we will come to an area near your home to administer our treatment. The best news is that we serve a wide area of Southwest Michigan, including Grand Haven, Lowell, Grand Rapids, Alma, Ionia, Lansing, Allegan, Douglas and Everett to help you with all of your veterinary care needs.

What steps do you take to prevent heartworm in your pet?