Chronos is checking in for his ProHeart injection! Your pup should too:) Read on to see why it’s so important, especially in our area.
When they bite, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm larvae. And those heartworms can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. They can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Memphis and the south in general have THE HIGHEST incidence of heartworm disease in the world due to heavy mosquito population. In and outdoor dogs and cats are susceptible to heartworm disease.
In dogs, initial stage of disease can be asymptomatic. Clinical signs of more advanced heartworm disease range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” which is unfortunately fatal without prompt surgical intervention at a specialty hospital.
Cats also get heartworms. The symptoms can be subtle and may mimic those of asthma or allergic bronchitis. Signs of respiratory distress, such as rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing, and panting, are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight. Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs.
Treatment for heartworm infection is far more expensive and burdensome than prevention. It involves diligent use of medication, intramuscular injections, activity restriction, and lots of testing and monitoring. There is no approved treatment for cats. Even one or two adult heartworms in a cat can cause serious problems.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to keep your dog or cat safe: by administering heartworm preventives. Most monthly heartworm medications also protect against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, ticks and fleas. ProHeart is an injection we administer in office to dogs only. It protects your dog for 6 months to a year, depending which product you chose and dog’s age. Modern preventive products are FDA approved, safe, effective and affordable. Keep in mind that heartworm preventives are PRESCRIPTION ONLY. Anything you may be able to purchase over the counter or order online without prescription are likely dewormers for intestinal parasites and have no efficacy against heartworms.
Visit American Heartworm Society website for more information about prevention, treatment and management of this complex yet preventable disease.