Myths and Facts about Heartworm Disease

Myths and Facts about Heartworm Disease

Getting infected by heartworm can be daunting. Just one infected mosquito bite can put your pet’s health in jeopardy. When we talk about diseases in pets, heartworm specifically, there are many myths surrounding it. Heartworm disease can have grievous consequences if left untreated. So, instead of listening to myths, one should make a rational decision in order to prevent heartworm disease in their pet.

Heartworm disease is caused by a mosquito that has been infected by heartworm. When the infected mosquito bites a dog, it transmits the infective larvae to the dog. If the dog is not protected, the larvae will reach adult stage and cause damage to dog’s lungs and heart.

Below we have discussed the most common myths about heartworm disease and have provided facts to spread awareness about it.

Myth# Heartworm Disease Can Spread Only In Warm Climate Fact: It’s a known fact that summertime is “mosquito season” and many believe that their dogs won’t get infected in winters. Mosquitoes are prevalent during summer but there are some species which are present throughout the year. Dogs can be an easy target during the

winters too, so always ensure that you’re using preventives even when the temperature is not high.

Myth# Only Dogs Get Infected By Heartworm Disease Fact: It’s true that dogs are at the highest risk of getting infected by heartworms, but cats and ferrets are also vulnerable to this disease. Cats are not 100% safe from heartworms. If they are exposed to infective larvae, they too can be infected. Normally in cats, heartworms die before they reach maturity; hence cats have lesser chances of getting infected. There are very few treatments available for heartworms in cats, so the sensible choice would be to use a preventive.

Myth# Indoor Pets Don’t Get Infected By Heartworms Fact: Even if your pet spends their entire time inside the house, there are still chances of them getting infected during a quick walk. Mosquitoes can also enter the house through your open door or windows. No place is safe from mosquitoes and that’s why you need to be cautious about the health of your pet.

Myth# Irregularity in Administering Heartworm Preventives Is Okay Fact: You must be thinking that it’s fine to miss one dose during winter. This makes your dog vulnerable to infections during that period and there’s a higher possibility that he can get infected.

If you miss a dose and your dog gets bitten, the heartworm larvae present in his body will reach maturity in 6-7 months. Then the only option would be to treat the disease, the process of which is extremely complex and expensive. If you are concerned that you might forget monthly doses, injections are available that can be given twice a year.

Myth# It’s A Contagious Disease Fact: Many people seem to think that heartworm disease is contagious. It doesn’t work like flu and your dog won’t get infected if he comes in contact with another dog that has the disease. It can only be transmitted though mosquito bites. The mosquitoes obtain the heartworm larvae from other animals like infected coyotes, dogs, foxes, etc. Then they spread the disease to other animals. Therefore, you can let your dog play with other pets without worrying about heartworm disease.

Myth# Heartworm Prevention Is Expensive Fact: Studies have shown that the cost of heartworm treatment is 10 times more than the year-round preventives. The preventives cost is very less if you compare it to the treatment of the disease. Moreover, the infection affects lungs and heart so it may also cause a permanent damage to your pet’s health. This is the reason it’s crucial to use preventives on your dog during the year. Heartgard Plus Chewable is one of the products that provide protection against heartworm disease.

Majority of people avoid preventive treatment because they’ve read or heard some myth about heartworms and that ignorance can put a pet’s life in danger. Heartworm prevention is very convenient and there are many options available. Using heartworm preventive will protect your dog from this fatal disease and it will save you from spending a fortune on treatments.

Reference:http://budgetpetworld.weebly.com/home/faq-on-heartworm