Heartworm Disease

WHAT IS HEARTWORM DISEASE?

PRICING:
- Heartgard Plus (6 pack) : up to 25lb: $29; 26 - 50lb: $35; 51 - 100lb: $39
(Click on the name of the product to visit the manufacturer's website.)

Heartworm disease is caused by long, slender parasites that can reach up to 12 inches in length and can infect dogs and cats. These parasites are transmitted from one pet to another by mosquitoes. The worms live in the right side of the heart and adjoining vessels of infected pets and are capable of causing substantial damage to the heart and lungs before they show any signs of disease. Fortunately, this is a disease that is entirely preventable.

Is My Pet At Risk?
Heartworms primarily affect dogs, but infectioin in cats is common in many areas and is on the rise. Heartworm disease in cats is generally even more dangerous because it takes few worms to cause problems, and treatment is more risky.

Symptoms of this disease include:
- Coughing
- Fainting
- Exercise intolerance
- Excessive panting
- Difficulty breathing

Florida ranks number one in our country for heartworm disease. Mosquitoes can travel in the wind many miles from a water source. One bite from an infected mosquito can lead to the death of a pet and no pet is completely safe.

Easy, Safe Prevention
The best way to reduce your pet's risk of infection is to chose one of our safe monthly heartworm preventives that kill immature worms before they can cause damage.
Beacuse they may already be infected, ti is important for dogs over six moths of age to have a blood test before starting heartworm preventive. Limiting mosquito exposure is difficult, so the safest way to prevent heartworm infection is by getting the preventive.

Testing for Infection
We recommend that dogs six months and older be tested annually for heartworms. The earlier an infection is caught, the easier and safer the treatment is. We also recommend testing any pets that are exprinceing any of the above mentioned symptoms. At Pet Care A Van, we provide a quick blood test to screen for infection.

When Disease Strikes
Treatment for heartworms can be risky and expensive. That's why we advocate year-round prevention! The prognosis for the patients with heartworms warires, depending on the degree of infection. During the treament, sick pets need strict confindement and monitoring, and most require hospitalization - sometimes for weeks.

Drug treatments are staggered to kill adult and immature worms. Supportive therapy is giving to decrease inflammation, aid breathing, and decrease the risk of complications. If a patient survives this disease, it is not immune and still needs a preventive. If the worms damage the heart, the pet may need lifelong supportive medication and therapeutic diets.
Please take these steps to prevent heartworm in your pets today.