Heartworm and Flea Season is Here
As we start to enjoy the lazy days of summer, we need to think about our pets. Parasites, such as fleas, ticks and worms can overwhelm our pets during the summer and fall seasons. Prevention is the best way to protect your dog and cat from these parasites and the time to take action is now.
The heartworm parasite causes the most concern for dogs and their owners. This parasite is transferred when a heartworm-infected mosquito bites a dog. It can take up to six months for the parasite to grow into an adult heartworm, at which time it can be detected by a blood test. Because the incubation period is so long, what we veterinarians like to call “heartworm season” begins in the spring months every year. Each spring, we can do a simple blood test to check to see if your dog is infected with adult heartworms from last year’s mosquito bites.
If the blood test is negative and your dog is not infected, it is recommended that we start your dog on a monthly heartworm preventive medication. The prevention part of heartworm season typically runs through the months of June to November. If your dog is bitten by a heartworm-infected mosquito, the parasite takes about 30 days to travel through the dog's muscles and tissues before getting into the bloodstream. During this 30-day journey, the migrating parasite is easily killed. So, if your dog is bitten by an infected mosquito in May, the infection is prevented if the heartworm medication is given to your dog on June 1st.
When dogs test positive for heartworm, they can have a significantly reduced quality of life and decreased lifespan. The medical treatment for heartworm is dangerous and far more costly than the monthly heartworm medication. By putting your dog on a heartworm preventive every summer you avoid the possibility of your dog getting a buildup of worms in its heart and lungs.
The good news is many of the heartworm preventives available also control and treat several other parasites. Fleas, ticks and intestinal worms are the parasites that most commonly infect our pets and are easily prevented with the same heartworm medication.
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