How to Prevent Heartworm in Dogs
Photo courtesy of The Ways of The Dog
How to Prevent Heartworm in Dogs
As spring blossoms and dogs enjoy more time outdoors, it's important to remain vigilant about the heightened risk of heartworm disease and take steps to prevent it. Heartworm is a serious and preventable health issue affecting dogs and cats across the country—even pets who spend most of their time indoors or in cities are at risk. According to the American Heartworm Society, more than one million pets in the United States are infected with heartworms. More than 100,000 dogs test positive for heartworm disease each year, and 28% of dogs experience adult heartworm infection.
Preventive healthcare is a fundamental responsibility of pet ownership. Heartworm Awareness Month serves as an annual reminder to safeguard your dog against this life-threatening disease. Here's what pet parents need to know about protecting their dogs from heartworm.
How do dogs contract heartworm?
Heartworm spreads through mosquitoes that bite infected animals and then transmit the parasite when they bite pets. The larvae enter their bloodstream and migrate through their tissues as they mature. Their numbers can increase rapidly, and dogs have been known to carry hundreds of worms at a time. They eventually reside in pulmonary arteries, which are the large blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs. Additionally, adult heartworms can live for several years, all while causing damage to the blood vessels. This leads to coughing, pulmonary hypertension, and congestive heart failure in dogs who are left untreated.
Is heartworm disease deadly?
Heartworm is deadly for dogs, cats, and other pets. In severe cases, adult heartworms migrate to the heart and damage red blood cells, resulting in a life-threatening surgical emergency. Without surgery, this stage of disease is fatal within days of symptoms. The disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries, and can affect your dog’s quality of life even after the parasites are gone. That’s why prevention is the best option. If needed, treatment should be administered as early as possible.
Are dogs who live in cities at risk for heartworm?
Dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm disease in every state across the United States, the American Heartworm Society reports. Although urban areas may not have as many mosquitoes as rural or suburban areas, they still harbor plenty of mosquitos due to various parks, green spaces, and bodies of water. Additionally, certain species are well adapted to urban environments and thrive in stagnant water lying in containers, sewers, and storm drains. Therefore, there is still a high risk of exposure to mosquitoes for dogs living in New York City and other urban areas, even in cooler climates.
Five steps for preventing heartworm disease in dogs
Choose a preventive medication. Heartworm disease can only be prevented through regular and appropriate use of preventive medications, which are prescribed by your veterinarian. These medications are available as monthly chewables, a monthly topical treatment, or annual injections.
Ensure year-round prevention. Many heartworm medications target multiple parasites such as roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. Additionally, mosquitoes remain active all year, even in colder climates. Year-round prevention is essential to minimize risk, particularly during unexpected warm spells and as the seasons change.
Schedule routine vet visits. The American Heartworm Society recommends that all dogs test for heartworm every 12 months, including those already taking preventive medication. Preventives do not kill adult heartworms and can cause severe problems if given to pets who have adult heartworms. Always follow your veterinarian’s advice before giving your dog medication.
Maintain a mosquito-free home. Mosquitoes can breed in even small pools of stagnant water, such as flowerpots, rain gutters, and low-lying areas. Even one bite from a mosquito poses a risk. Regularly check your outdoor space and consider using pet-friendly insecticides to minimize bugs, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Watch for signs and symptoms. One of the first symptoms of heartworm is coughing. Other symptoms can include chest pain, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. However, dogs may not have any symptoms until the infection is in a much later stage. Because early detection is challenging and symptoms can remain invisible, continuous prevention and regular heartworm tests are critical.
Heartworm prevention at Badass Animal Rescue
Badass Animal Rescue regularly rescues dogs who are affected by heartworm and ensures they receive the veterinary care they need to recover. Despite the many obstacles they overcome, these resilient dogs go on to lead healthy and fulfilling lives, and ultimately get a fresh start in their forever homes.
Badass alum Ellen Griswold living her best, heartworm free life!
Ellen Griswold, who Badass rescued in 2020, was diagnosed with heartworm upon arrival. After undergoing treatment under the care of our veterinarians, she made a remarkable recovery and quickly returned to full health. Today, she continues to receive regular heartworm preventive medication and is thriving in her forever home.
Heartworm prevention and treatment is just one of the many services that Badass Animal Rescue provides for rescue dogs in New York City. As a Responsible Rescue, we rescue ALL dogs - regardless of age, breed, or medical condition - including heartworm disease. Your support makes a world of difference in supporting our volunteer-run organization. If you’d like to make a donation to help us pay for critical services like this, you can donate here.