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HEARTWORM DISEASE |
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| WHAT IS A HEARTWORM & HOW DOES MY PET GET IT? |
| The heartworm is a parasite that can live in the heart of
a cat or dog. These worms cause heart damage, called "heartworm disease."
Mosquitoes spread this disease from other animals. Heartworm disease is not
just a canine disease. Heartworms affect cats differently than dogs, but the
disease they cause is equally
serious.
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| TESTING |
| A blood test is required to check for adult heartworm
living in the heart. We recommend the
test be done annually in the spring before the mosquitoes come out. There
is a blood test for dogs and cats. |
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| PREVENTION |
| A monthly preventative medicine is given throughout the year. It is
a monthly pill, usually good flavor, that the dogs enjoy. Make sure your
dog eats the entire pill since the medicine is distributed unevenly throughout.
Most of the heartworm pills on the market today have added medicine to control
and treat intestinal parasites (worms). Since your dog is still exposed to
worms all year, it is a good idea to give a de-wormer monthly all year long. |
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For cats: there is a monthly
tablet and a topical available to prevent heartworms.
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| TREATMENT |
| There is a treatment for heartworm disease, but it is costly, dangerous
and painful for your dog. There is no treatment available for cats.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that pet owners use prevention in all cases.
Contact your veterinarian for more information. |
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| For more information on both Feline and
Canine Heartworm Disease please visit the
American Heartworm Society. |
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