Heartworm & Dogs

Heartworm is an entirely preventable condition. Most commonly found in dogs the parasitic disease is most often caught during warm summer months co-inciding with peak mosquito activity. Symptoms normally show themselves during the following spring.

Your vet can usually test your dog for heartworm with a simple blood test. The American Heartworm Society recommend all dog owners use a preventative heartworm medicine at least during the warmer months. Using heartworm meds year round ensures your dog has no risk of ever catching the disease.

Before beginning treatment with a heartworm preventative medication it is usual to carry out a heartworm test.  Where only seasonal use is practiced speak to your vet about repeating the test annually.

The old way to prevent heartworm in dogs was to use a daily tablet.  These are still available but most dog-owners now use either monthly heartworm pills or a monthly heartworm topical treatment.

Heartworm pills are able to kill any larval worms caught during the previous 30 days so must be used at monthly intervals.  Both big name brands and generic products are available offering exactly the same protection against the parasite.

Branded products tend to come in more palatable chewable rather than tablet form making them ideal for dogs who decline medication as pills.  Generic products are available, containing exactly the same active ingredients as the brands.  For a cheaper price you tend to get less attractive packaging and slightly different looking medicine.  Law forbids generic products being identical in appearance to the branded version.  So if you opt for a generic heartworm med don't be surprised if the tablets themselves are a different shape and colour to your usual brand.

The other way to ensure your dog never becomes infected with the heartworm parasite is to use a monthly topical heartworm med. These are chosen by many pet owners because they offer flea control too.

By choosing such a topical treatment you can reduce the number of pet meds in the house and the number of things you need to remember to administer. Depending on what additional parasites cause you concern will determine which topical treatment to use.

Advantage Multi (Advocat) is a good choice if your primary concerns are heartworm, fleas and intestinal worms.  This topical treatment destroys heartworms, hookworms, roundworm and whipworm.  It also combines the effective flea control power of ordinary Advantage ensuring your dog is worm and flea free all month long.

The alternative topical heartworm med is sold as Revolution.  This uses selamectin to stop your dog falling victim to heartworm disease.  It also provide complete flea control (destroying adults and flea eggs), tick control and destruction of ear mites and sarcoptic mange.  For owners living in tick country using Revolution means you only need one form of external parasite control for your dogs.

One way to minimise the chance of your pets catching the disease is to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes. This will never offer the same guaranteed heartworm preventative but will help cut the risk.

Firstly a topical flea treatment which also deters biting mosquitoes should be chosen. Advantix spot on flea control repels and kills mosquitoes. Secondly dogs should remain indoors during the dark hours of peak mosquito activity. Thirdly all standing water where mosquitoes are likely to breed should be removed from your yard.

Although such measures will help, the only way to guarantee your dog does not contract the disease is by choosing a dedicated heartworm medicine.

Heartworm disease is caused by a thread-like parasite. Mosquitoes pass juvenile worms to our pets when they feed. As the worms grow they congregate around the heart blocking blood vessels and causing organ damage. Left untreated as many as 250 adult heartworms, up to 14" long may congregate in your pet's heart. Here they breed, releasing thousands of microfillarie offspring into the animal's bloodstream.

Although traditionally a problem for dogs, heartworm in cats is also a problem.