The Importance of Monthly Heartworm Treatments for Your Dog
Posted on March 31, 2023 by Pinnacle Vet Clinic
April is recognized as Heartworm Awareness Month, and it’s fitting that a whole month is dedicated to this parasite that affects dogs. Heartworm infestation is a serious and life-threatening condition. During April, we are offering a FREE heartworm test when you bring your dog in for a regular paid exam.
Heartworm Disease & Transmission
Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of dogs. Mosquito bites transmit the disease and can lead to severe lung disease, heart failure, and even death if left untreated.
Annual Heartworm Testing
Annual heartworm testing is essential for your dog’s health because it allows us to detect heartworms in their early stages when treatment is most effective. The test involves a simple blood test that can detect the presence of heartworms in your dog’s bloodstream.
If your dog tests positive for heartworms, immediate treatment is required, which can be a lengthy and costly process. If left untreated, heartworm disease can cause irreversible damage to your dog’s heart and lungs, severely impacting their quality of life.
Heartworm Prevention
The best way to avoid a ready case of heartworms for your dog is prevention. Depending on your dog’s weight, you can buy up to seven years worth of monthly heartworm preventative for the same cost of treating your dog after they have the disease. However, even with preventative medicine, there is still a slight risk of infection, which is why annual heartworm testing is crucial for your dog’s overall health and well-being.
