Heartworm

    Heartworms are worms that live in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries (the arteries that take blood from the heart to the lungs). They make it difficult for the heart to pump blood and eventually lead to heart failure and death. Dogs contract heartworm by being bitten by a mosquito carrying the heartworm larvae. The microscopic larva is injected into the blood where the worm matures and grows. As an adult, it can be up to a foot long.

    Heartworm disease can be diagnosed by a blood test performed at our hospital. If the test is positive, we will first run a series of tests, including EKG, x-rays, and blood chemistries, to evaluate how much damage the heartworms have done to the heart and the rest of the body. If the dog is healthy enough to undergo treatment, we will then begin treating with a series of injections to kill the adult heartworms.

    We strongly recommend putting your dog on heartworm preventative medication (we recommend Interceptor). Puppies less than 6 months of age can be started on the monthly preventative with no test needed. Dogs older than 6 months of age need to have the heartworm test done prior to being started on the preventative to make sure your pet has not already contracted the disease. We recommend year round prevention with blood test every two years. Seasonal prevention (from early spring till after a couple of hard frosts) requires a yearly blood test prior to starting the prevention in the spring. Heartworm preventative (Interceptor) also prevents other intestinal parasites such as; hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms!!!