The Heartache of  Heartworm Disease

With warmer months upon us, our thoughts turn to enjoying outside activities with our pets. And as you hunt for insect spray for yourself, you might be unaware that mosquitoes can also be a pest for your dog, or even a deadly threat from serious illnesses like Heartworm Disease.  But mosquitoes are not only an outdoor threat,  they can easily carry larvae from pet to pet indoors as well.

Heartworms are parasites that live in the tissues of infected dogs and work themselves towards the heart and lungs. They can grow up to fourteen inches long and do enough damage to a ‘host’ pet to cause heart failure and death.                                      

The American Heartworm Society has an excellent web site with useful information about Heartworms and other parasites, such as Roundworms and Hookworms, that can invade your pets and cause health problems. The web site includes a video link with a clear graphical explanation about how mosquitoes transmit the infected larvae between dogs, and what you can do to protect your dog.

Treatment for Heartworms is Complicated
One of our own co-workers, Heather, had to face the scare and expense of treating a young Beagle for heartworms.  She found the dog wandering hungry and in very poor health in a lonely stretch of South Carolina countryside.  Many miles from the nearest house, Heather mercifully scooped up the Beagle and took him home to North Carolina, where Dr. Kevin Monce, of PetSound Animal Hospital in Cary, NC, diagnosed him.  The Beagle, whom Heather named Connor, had heartworm disease, with massive heartworms in his heart and lungs, along with other medical issues.

Treatment for Connor’s heartworms meant several days in the Animal Hospital, X-rays to diagnose the disease, several types of medication to kill the big worms, and five follow-up examinations to see if the treatment was working. The total bill came to over $1,200.  Today, Connor is strong, healthy and full of energy -- a welcome addition to Heather’s family of dogs.

If Heather had acquired Connor as a puppy, he could have been covered under an AKC Pet Healthcare Wellness Plan that offers a monthly Heartworm preventive treatment throughout the year. Connor’s bout with heartworm could then have been avoided, along with Heather’s out-of-pocket costs for treatment.

Your veterinarian can prescribe suitable parasite prevention care for your dog. It’s important to continue preventive treatments even in the winter, since mosquitoes can remain active, especially in warmer climates.

Don’t let your pet suffer needlessly, make certain you have your veterinarian prescribe the best preventive treatment for your dog.  Let our Wellness Plans help you pay for the protection your dog needs from mosquitoes and other parasites.