Heartworm is a parasite that lives in the blood of dogs and attacks the heart and can kill your pet. Treatment of an infected dog, if caught early enough, can be effective. And prevention can safeguard your pet from ever suffering from this deadly worm.
Heartgard Plus
The #1 Choice Of Veterinarians For Heartworm Disease Prevention! Only Heartgard Plus Comes In A Real-beef Chewable That Dogs Love. Heartgard Plus Also Treats And Controls Roundworms And Hookworms. It Is Approved For Use In Puppies As Young As 6 Weeks, Small Dogs Regardless Of Weight, Pregnant Or Breeding Bitches, Stud Dogs, And Collies.
Interceptor Heartworm Medication works in the following ways:
- Prevent Heartworm Disease
- Remove And Control Adult Roundworms And Whipworms In Dogs And Puppies
- Easy to use as a monthly dosage tabs
- Prevent Heartworm Disease And Remove Adult Hookworms And Roundworms in kittens and cats
What is heartworm?
Heartworm is a parasite that uses dogs as a host. When they are immature, the worms (microfilariae) are small and circulate in the blood. Adult worms can grow to more than 12 inches long and live in the heart. An untreated infection leads to congestive heart failure and eventually death.
How do dogs get heartworm?
Heartworm is transmitted by the mosquito. A mosquito bites an infected animal and passes infected blood onto the next animal that it bites.
Can all dogs get heartworm? What about puppies?
Heartworm infects dogs of any age, but most infections occur in dogs between four and seven years old. Dogs that live outside are four-to-five times more likely to become infected that indoor pets.
Heartworm Sympthoms:
What are the symptoms of heartworm infection? How can I tell if my dog has heartworm?
There are no symptoms during the early stages of infection. When adult worms attack the heart, common symptoms include chronic coughing, labored breathing, difficulty exercising, fainting, blood in the saliva, and heart disease.
Heartworm Treatment:
Drug treatment in the early stages of infection, when there are no adult worms, is usually effective and poses few problems to your pet. Adult worms can be treated, but the drugs used and the adult worm die-off can be potentially life threatening. How can I find out if my dog has been infected? There are two tests to check for infection. The Difil test checks for microfilariae or immature worms circulating in the blood. An occult heartworm test checks for the proteins (antigens) given off by adult worms. Your Veterinarian can perform these tests for you.
How can I prevent my dog from ever being infected with heartworm? The first step is a blood test to make sure your pet is not infected. If your pet has no signs of heartworm, a monthly pill purchased from your vet (we recommend Heartgard) will keep your dog free of the parasite. Please make an appointment today to test your dog The first step in protecting your dog's health is the blood test. The test for heartworm is simple and causes little discomfort.
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