Heartworm Prevention
Why are heartworms so dangerous?
Seventy days after a single bite from an infective mosquito, adult heartworms can reach your dog’s lungs. And then the real trouble starts: Serious and potentially fatal, heartworm disease can cause lasting damage to the blood vessels of the heart and lungs. If your dog has heartworms, you might notice signs, including coughing, difficulty breathing, sluggishness, reduced ability to exercise, and even loss of consciousness. Or you might not notice anything, as not all dogs exhibit symptoms—which is why prevention is recommended over expensive treatment that can be a prolonged, painful, and not always successful ordeal for your dog.
What about Hookworms and Roundworms?
Just like heartworms, hookworms and roundworms are dangerous — and potentially invisible — threats to your dog. Both can live in a dog’s intestines and cause a range of clinical signs. Roundworms are particularly troublesome, with an estimated 90+% of puppies under three months old infected. Unlike with heartworms, your dog can pass both hook- and roundworms to you. In fact, the CDC estimates that over 10,000 Americans get roundworms every year.⁴ Both can be contracted from either contact with contaminated soil or accidental ingestion.
How to Prevent Heartworms, Hookworms, and Roundworms
The good news is that heartworm disease is preventable. By taking a few simple precautions, you can easily keep your dog free of heartworm disease. Follow these three easy tips.
Reduce the number of mosquitoes
Keeping your home and your pets’ surroundings mosquito-free can be a challenge. It’s possible to reduce mosquito populations around your home, but it’s nearly impossible to eliminate them altogether. Mosquitoes are hardy pests. Take these steps to minimize creating a habitat that mosquitoes thrive in:
Use screens in doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
Eliminate standing water indoors and outdoors to reduce the opportunities for mosquitoes to procreate. Mosquitoes require water to flourish.
Use bug spray to keep mosquito bites at bay. The more they bite, the more they thrive.
Keep your home cool and dry. Hot and humid environments offer hospitable lodging where mosquitoes are likely to get comfortable, stay awhile and begin to breed.
Use a preventive
Preventive medicine can safeguard your dog from heartworm disease altogether. How? Preventives affect heartworm larvae before they ever have a chance to grow into adults and cause real harm to the host.
Most preventative products are administered monthly, making it easy to manage your dog's health regimen. The most effective require a prescription from your veterinarian.
ArmySoldier Dalmatians uses Hearthgard Plus because one monthly chew treats all three threats - heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
Regular testing
Before getting your dog on a heartworm prevention regimen, it’s important to make sure it is heartworm-free to begin with.
Your dog should be tested at least once a year (unless otherwise advised by your veterinarian). Testing is a simple and quick process that requires a small blood sample, which can be done at the time of your dog’s annual wellness visit.
By taking the time to invest in heartworm preventive care, you can have peace of mind that your dog will have a greater chance of enjoying a healthy life, free of heartworm disease. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for you and your dog.