Heartworm Disease......
Prevention is the key!

The heartworm is a large worm, up to 14 inches long, that in adulthood lives in the heart and the pulmonary arteries of an infected dog.  Heartworm disease is transmitted through mosquito bites.
Heartworms do not lay eggs, they give live birth to microfilariae (baby worms), which can be passed along through a mosquito's blood meal.  The microfilarae can live up to 2 years within a host dog.  Microfilariae can also be transmitted through a placental barrier into unborn puppies, should the dog be pregnant.

When bitten, the larva will remain in the dog's skin for several months before entering the host's circulatory system, where it will migrate to the heart and pulmonary arteries to eventually mate.
When mating occurs, the disease can become severe and lead to the entire right side of the heart becoming filled with worms resulting in minimal room for blood to be pumped.

Heartworm preventative medications are intended for monthly use and we recommend using these products year round, as preventing heartworm disease is much easier and safe than treating the actual disease.  Treating the disease is very painful and requires strict confinement for at least one month post the final treatment.

A simple blood test can be performed to test for heartworm disease.  This same test also includes testing for lyme disease, ehrlichia, and anaplasmosis; which are also prevalent in this area.

With the warmer months approaching, we STRONGLY recommend contacting our office to schedule an appointment to have your dog tested and to start heartworm preventative!