Heartworm
What do I need to know about Heartworm?
Heartworm is a parasite that is transmitted into the bloodstream by infected mosquitoes. One infected mosquito bite is all it takes to infect a dog or cat. There are no obvious symptoms of this infection until either a simple yet specific blood test is done, or signs are noted that appear as if your pet has a serious heart or lung problem, similar to congestive heart failure:
- Coughing, shortness of breath, fluid accumulation in the lungs and/or abdomen
- Weakness, lethargy, exercise intolerance, abnormal heart sounds
- Loss of appetite, dry coat, weight loss
By the time these signs are apparent, if tested positive, your pet is acutely ill with life-threatening heartworm infestation. Unfortunately, treatment at this advanced stage is extremely dangerous. In the process of adulticide treatment, dead worms can clog small blood vessels, causing blockages to the heart and vital organs. Either way, heartworms are fatal if your pet goes untreated.
Is it in California?
Unfortunately, yes. Changing seasonal warming weather patterns combined with increasing humidity, stagnant water sources and marsh-like areas all attract mosquitos. Where you live, be aware that standing water in any container will produce mosquito hatches. Since it is transmitted by infected mosquitos, not only are your pets vulnerable, but most mammal wildlife as well. There are 160 different species of mosquitoes in the U.S. and 70 of those species are heartworm vectors! Mosquitoes bite and feed from an infected animal and re-infect by feeding on another animal. In California, the disease is currently spreading from infected coyotes here in the Los Angeles areas.
Why does 1st Care offer these products for Heartworm protection?
We choose products for proven safety and efficacy, in addition to product tolerance by your pet and ease of compliance for you. Our goal is to provide you with an easy to administer, effective and safe medication that is guaranteed to protect your family pet.
Protection is so simple. Pets under 7 months of age need not be tested to start heartworm medication. All pets over this age need testing annually to assure that infection is negative prior to starting or continuing protective medication. Our products are prescribed requiring this annual testing. We will prescribe either Sentinel, HeartGard Plus or Trifexis (dogs only), with one tablet once a month by weight of your pet. Both Sentinel and Trifexis contain milbemycin oxime, and HeartGard Plus contains ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate. All of our products that protect against Heartworm also control intestinal parasites as an added benefit. For cats, Advantage Multi contains moxidectin, a similar medication to milbemycin, well tolerated by cats and able to effectively protect against heartworm, intestinal parasites, and ear mites as well.
FACTOID: Both Milbemycin and Moxidectin are naturally derived and organic in origin, produced by the fermentation of Streptomyces cyanogriseus, discovered in soil samples from Australia in 1980.
Information from:
Merck-Merial Animal Health Handbook 2010/Heartworm.org